By staff Reporter Rukevwe Odeh

WARRI, Delta State — Stakeholders in Odidi Community, Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State, have reaffirmed Prince Preye Okrikpa as the Executive Chairman of the community amid an ongoing leadership dispute before the High Court of Justice in Warri.

The stakeholders also expressed support for the intervention of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide over the prolonged crude oil spill affecting communities around Oil Mining Lease (OML) 42.

In a statement signed by Clement Numah, Secretary of Odidi Community; Oyateide Joseph Hitler, Youth President; and Nancy Ikpidi, Women Leader, the stakeholders said Okrikpa remains the recognised chairman under the community’s internal processes.

They stated that a rival executive led by Truston Gbenekama is the subject of a pending court case, identified as Suit No. W/102/2026, and urged the media, government institutions and other organisations to exercise caution in identifying individuals as the final leadership of the community while the matter remains before the court.

According to the stakeholders, the pending litigation means that the leadership question should be left for judicial determination rather than being settled through public statements or media activities.

They further stressed that the leadership dispute should not be allowed to overshadow the environmental challenges confronting residents of Odidi.

The stakeholders commended IYC President, Dr. Doubra Collins Okotete, and the council’s leadership for drawing attention to the reported oil spill and its consequences for residents and the environment.

They said the pollution had reportedly affected aquatic life, fishing activities and the livelihoods of people within the affected areas, describing the intervention as an important step toward drawing attention to the situation.

The stakeholders called on Heritage Energy Operational Services Limited (HEOSL), the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and other relevant authorities to act on the reported spill.

Their demands include immediate containment and investigation of the incident, environmental assessment and remediation, as well as consideration of legitimate compensation claims in line with applicable laws and procedures.

They also urged authorities to engage properly constituted community representatives during the response while respecting the ongoing court proceedings.

The stakeholders maintained that affected residents should not be denied appropriate relief because of the unresolved leadership dispute.

They urged IYC to sustain its intervention on environmental issues affecting Odidi and other Niger Delta communities.

The group concluded that while the leadership question should be determined by the court, the reported environmental concerns require urgent attention from government agencies, regulators and the relevant oil-sector operators.