By Lucky Uto
Members of the Sapele-Okpe Community in Sapele Local Government Area of Delta State have passed a vote of no confidence on their chairman, Chief Onoriode Temiagin, over allegations of secretly amending the community’s constitution and creating a fifth quarter without consultation.
The decision was taken on Sunday, March 1, 2026, after an aborted monthly meeting at Okpe Hall.
Community members who gathered at the hall held discussions on the development and unanimously agreed to pass the vote following extensive deliberations.
The crisis stems from claims that the Temiagin-led executive amended the constitution to recognise Otonyasere as the fifth quarter of the Sapele-Okpe Community without informing the other quarters or the Sapele-Okpe Community Land Trust Association.
Those present described the move as controversial and potentially harmful to the community’s legal and property interests.
Among prominent leaders at the meeting were Dr. Kingsley Abeke, Secretary of the Sapele-Okpe Community Land Trust Association; Chief Tom Anirah; Youth President Obomine Ekariko; Chief G. Dafinone; and Senator Ede Dafinone, who represents Delta Central and also chairs the Community Land Trust Association.
Addressing members before the vote, Senator Dafinone said he had repeatedly requested a copy of the amended constitution for over a year without success. He asked if anyone present had seen the document, and the crowd responded that they had not.
The senator linked the amendment to an ongoing land dispute between the Sapele-Okpe Community and some residents of Otonyasere over land in the Forest Reserve Area.
He said the community had won at both the High Court and the Court of Appeal, and that the case is now before the Supreme Court.
According to him, recognising Otonyasere as a fifth quarter could weaken the community’s position in the case.
He also raised concerns about alleged instructions given to the community’s lawyers to withdraw cases that were close to judgment in their favour.
In addition, he accused the chairman of postponing the monthly meeting indefinitely after learning that members planned to seek clarification on the constitutional amendment.
Another speaker, Solomon Abeke, accused the chairman and his team of running the community in an autocratic manner.
While some members suggested issuing a warning and giving the chairman time to respond, others insisted that a vote of no confidence was necessary to protect the community’s interest. In the end, members present unanimously adopted the vote.
However, in the interest of fairness, Senator Dafinone urged that the chairman be given an opportunity to defend himself.
The community resolved that each of the four existing quarters would nominate 10 representatives to meet with him and hear his response.
The outcome of that meeting will determine the next steps in resolving the leadership crisis.
