The Urhobo Progress Union Canada (UPUC) General Assembly has given reasons for its rejection of Evelyn Omotejowho Oboaguonona as its president.

This was contained in a statement issued by Bishop Jude Orovwigho and Omiregwa Vwede Obahor (Chairman and member of UPUC General Assembly representatively made available to newsmen last weekend.

The statement stated inter alia that ‘there was Inconclusive Election. On September 15, 2024 the agreed election day by the General Assembly of UPUC, no vote was cast for the office of the president or that of the vice president as the election was scuttled due to irregularities and was inconclusive. In summary, there was no election.

‘According to them, there was also Non-Compliance of the electoral process. “The election process was totally non-compliant with the UPU Canada 2012 Constitution (Articles 4 and 6) from its planning to implementation.

‘They challenged anyone to show ‘Proof that a conclusive election took place’. If Evelyn Omotejowho Oboaguonona claims that they conducted an election aside from the September 15, 2024 inconclusive one, they should provide objective evidence of the day the election was held, venue, the names of General Assembly members present, the list of registered voters, accredited voters, and numbers of votes cast, and other objective evidence.

‘Also if votes were cast what are the names and positions of other elected executive committee members as required by Article 4 section 1 and section 2 of the UPUC constitution, and what are the names and testimony of the electoral committee that conducted the election as required by article 7 section 1 of the UPUC constitution.

‘ Also, if there was an election as claimed, when did the Electoral committee present the alleged newly elected executive committee to the General Assembly members at the completion of the election as required by article 7 section 1 of the UPUC constitution and what number of the members were present at that presentation.

‘Absence of justification from UPU HQ (Nigeria) leadership. The UPU HQ did not justify the reason for their decision to select Evelyn A. Omotejowho Oboaguonona as UPUC president without an election, and since they were acting in their capacity as mediators or advisory to the dispute resolution, their decision is not legally final or binding on UPUC, thus UPUC will have to follow its set compliant procedure as set in its UPUC constitution article 11 section.

‘On Lack of leadership in a democratic setting. On October 1, 2024 a duly signed petition by 5 elders from the General Assembly of UPUC was sent to the PG for his intervention on electoral infractions noticed on September 15, 2024 as well as the meeting and selection of Evelyn A. Omotejowho Oboaguonona as the president of UPUC in a private residencs by not more than 7 persons in attendance. The General Assembly of UPUC is made up of more than 37 active members.

‘ According to Assembly, there are several unanswered questions that need answers as well, like who were the board of trustees and who nominated them?

‘ In conclusion, from our findings this unjustified resolution by the UPU HQ leadership has created more divisions in the already fractured membership of the union in Canada and requires either a reversal of the resolution or other options to address the injustice would be explored by the UPUC Caretaker Committee which formation was earlier blessed by the PG of UPU HQ (Nigeria).’