By Victor Lewis
The timely intervention of the Delta State Administrative Council (SAC) of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) has restored peace to the Ughelli Otovwodo Unit executive of the Union that has been engulfed in internal dispute since July, 2025.
It would be recalled that sometime in early July, 2025, there was a crisis among the executive members of the Otovwodo Ughelli Unit of the NURTW where a group led by Asore Oharisi, Stanley Omobaye and others, purportedly expelled the chairman, Comrade Solomon Esharive from office.
However, the State Executive of the Union led by its chairman, , recently intervened to restore sanity to the Unit.
It was however gathered that the Delta State Administrative Council (SAC) of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) led by Chief (Comrade) Francis Arhiyor (JP) intervened, and after series of meetings during which the crisis in the Otovwodo Unit was exhaustively considered, it was resolved that the Unit Executives be suspended, citing persistent leadership crises and gross constitutional violations.
Accordingly, in an official memo dated 16th July 2025 referenced NURTW/DTSC/A6/VOL 3/214, and signed by Chief (Comrade) Francis Arhiyor (JP), the State Chairman and National Trustee of the Union, Otovwodo Unit executive of the NURTW was suspended.
The SAC, it was further gathered, hinged the suspension order on the breach of Article 42 section 6 (i–iv) of the Union Constitution, including failure to adhere to due disciplinary procedures.
Additionally, the State exco faulted the Otovwodo executives for sidestepping established internal dispute mechanisms by involving the National Industrial Court, thereby contravening Article 42 section 8 (1)(iv), which bars members from initiating civil action without first exhausting internal channels.
“In line with Article 17 section 2 sub-sections 15 and 16(g), which empowers the State Council to discipline officers for acts prejudicial to the Union’s interest, the Otovwodo Unit Executives stand suspended effective Friday, 1st August, 2025,” the statement read.
Those suspended among the Otovwodo Executives include: Godspower Oharisi, Kelvin Omubaye, Author Asaboro, Asony Oharisi, Акрово Оharisi, Stanley Omubaye, Ese Ugbogu, Israel Oharisi, Ufuoma Omorokor and Chief A. Ighogboja.
Others are Ovuoke Egbonoje, Friday Okρακο, Ufuoma Azugo, Tony Oharisi, Justice Shokare, Ojite Cosmos, Peter Okogbe, Anthony Omubaye, Ovedje Igho and Henry Aluya.
Consequently, a 7-man Caretaker Committee has been constituted to steer the affairs of the Otovwodo Unit for an initial period of three months, with immediate effect. The suspended officers have been directed to hand over all Union properties in their custody and cooperate to ensure industrial harmony.
The Caretaker Committee Members appointed include: Chief Itobore Tony, Caretaker Chairman, Comrade Oshimishere Alex Ayoro -Caretaker Secretary, Comrade Ese Onojuvwewo -Member, Comrade Efemena Erhomeada-Member, Chief Charles Kwode -State Coordinator, Comrade Ameachi Igumbor-State Coordinator, and Comrade Barry Nwaduba-State Coordinator.
The resolution has been widely communicated to relevant authorities, including the Secretary to the State Government, security agencies, and traditional institutions, local government authority as copied in the communique.
This marks a critical turning point in the Union’s internal governance, sending a strong signal that constitutional breaches will no longer be tolerated.
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