DOCUMENT 1: OPEN LETTER TO GOVERNOR DOUYE DIRI
APOI KINGDOM OPEN LETTER TO GOVERNOR DOUYE DIRI: CHIEFS, ELDERS, WOMEN AND YOUTHS APPEAL FOR LIFTING OF SUSPENSION ON IBENANAOWEI ELECTION
His Excellency,
Senator Douye Diri
Executive Governor of Bayelsa State
Government House, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
Your Excellency,
APPEAL FOR THE LIFTING OF THE SUSPENSION ON THE ELECTION OF THE IBENANAOWEI OF APOI KINGDOM
We, the chiefs, members of the Elders Council (ELCO), stakeholders, women and youths of Apoi Kingdom in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, respectfully appeal to Your Excellency to intervene and lift the suspension placed on the election of a new Ibenanaowei of Apoi Kingdom.
Our appeal is borne out of our collective desire to restore the traditional leadership selection process in our kingdom through a peaceful, transparent and credible election that reflects the will of our people.
Following the passing of our late Ibenanaowei in 2024, the people of Apoi Kingdom unanimously agreed to conduct an election to select a new traditional ruler who would lead the kingdom and represent its interests.
Consequently, November 29, 2025, was fixed for the election, and an Electoral Committee, known as ELCO, was constituted with representation from the various communities in Apoi Kingdom to ensure an inclusive process.
His Royal Highness, Chief Ogbodo Friday, the oldest chief in Apoi Kingdom, Amanaowei of Sampou Community and a former Acting Ibenanaowei of Apoi Kingdom, confirmed that the kingdom had collectively agreed to proceed with the election.
In preparation for the exercise, nomination forms were sold to interested aspirants, and five candidates emerged to contest the election. All necessary electoral arrangements and logistics were reportedly put in place ahead of the scheduled date.
However, to the surprise of our people, the election was suspended approximately 24 hours before it was due to take place following an announcement attributed to the late Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo.
Since then, several meetings have been held in an effort to resolve the matter and determine the way forward.
The latest meeting reportedly had the Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Dr. Peter Akpe, in attendance, alongside the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, the Governor’s Special Adviser on Chieftaincy Affairs, the Chairman of Southern Ijaw Local Government Area and representatives of chiefs from Apoi Clan.
Despite these engagements, the suspension remains a major concern for our people, who are eager to conclude the process of selecting a new traditional ruler.
YOUR EXCELLENCY, APOI KINGDOM IS NOT IN CRISIS
We respectfully wish to emphasise that Apoi Kingdom is not in crisis. We are a peace-loving people who value dialogue, unity, mutual respect and peaceful coexistence.
Our desire to elect a new Ibenanaowei should not be misconstrued as a threat to peace or an attempt to undermine the authority of the state government.
Rather, we believe that allowing the people to conclude the process they collectively agreed upon will strengthen unity, promote confidence in our traditional institutions and demonstrate the government’s commitment to inclusive leadership and respect for the aspirations of the people.
The stakeholders also highlighted Apoi Kingdom’s importance as a major oil-producing area, describing the kingdom as a host community to oil industry operations associated with Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) and Oando.
Our people remain committed to maintaining peace, protecting our communities and supporting the state government’s efforts to promote stability and development.
OUR APPEAL TO THE GOVERNOR
Your Excellency, we therefore appeal to you to use your good offices to review the circumstances surrounding the suspension and facilitate a peaceful resolution that will allow the election of a new Ibenanaowei to proceed in accordance with applicable laws, established customs and recognised procedures.
We further assure Your Excellency that the chiefs, elders, stakeholders, women and youths of Apoi Kingdom are ready and willing to continue working with the state government, Southern Ijaw Local Government Council and relevant authorities to maintain peace and order throughout the kingdom and Bayelsa State at large.
We believe that your timely intervention will bring relief to our people, strengthen our traditional institution and restore the process of selecting a substantive traditional ruler for Apoi Kingdom.
We respectfully look forward to your favourable consideration of our appeal.
Long live Apoi Kingdom.
Long live Southern Ijaw Local Government Area.
Long live Bayelsa State.
Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Yours faithfully,
His Royal Highness, Chief Ogbodo Friday
Amanaowei of Sampou Community
Former Acting Ibenanaowei of Apoi Kingdom
Signing on behalf of the Chiefs, ELCO, Stakeholders, Women and Youths of Apoi Kingdom.
