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From Our Correspondent 

Ughelli, Delta State — Former Deputy President of the Senate and Delta Central senatorial candidate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, has launched a blistering attack on the Chairman of Ughelli North Local Government Area, Jaro Egbo, over the sealing of the business premises of Amb. Tobore Alex Agbah, describing the move as “political gangsterism and executive rascality of the worst order.”

In a press statement issued on October 5, 2026, and personally signed by him, the Senator condemned the action “in the strongest possible terms,” calling it “unlawful,” “vindictive” and “cowardly.”

Punishment for a Peaceful March?

Omo-Agege tied the sealing directly to a political rally in the area, noting that it came less than 24 hours after Agbah led what he called the “historic, peaceful and highly successful” NDC 10,000-man march in Ughelli.

“That march was lawful. It was orderly. It was the authentic voice of our people speaking freely,” he said.

He accused the council chairman of responding to legitimate democratic expression with “brute force and abuse of state power.”

“No Local Government Chairman Can Override the Constitution”

The Senator argued that the sealing tramples on fundamental rights. According to him, the right to peaceful assembly and the right to own and operate a business premises are guaranteed under Sections 40 and 43 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

“No local government chairman has the power to override the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” he stated.

Omo-Agege went further, questioning Egbo’s fitness for office. “If a chairman feels threatened by his own people marching peacefully in their own town, then he has lost the moral legitimacy to lead them,” he said, adding that sealing a citizen’s premises for organising a peaceful political rally is “illegal, unconstitutional, and an impeachable abuse of office.”

Three Demands

The Senator demanded:

• Immediate and unconditional unsealing of Agbah’s business premises;
• A public apology from the Chairman to Agbah and to the 10,000 Deltans whose democratic will, he said, was insulted;
• Urgent intervention by the Governor of Delta State and the Delta State House of Assembly to restrain the Chairman “before his intolerance plunges the local government into avoidable crisis.”

“This Act of Intimidation Will Only Strengthen Our Movement”

Issuing a stern warning to the Chairman, the NDC candidate said: “You can seal a building, but you cannot seal an idea. You cannot seal the resolve of the people of Ughelli North.”

He insisted the clampdown would backfire. “This act of intimidation will only strengthen our movement and embolden our people,” he said.

Declaring solidarity with Agbah, Omo-Agege added: “I stand solidly with Amb. Tobore Alex Agbah and with every Deltan who believes in freedom, justice and democracy.”

He closed with a defiant note: “The march has only just begun.”

The statement was issued by Sunny Areh, Media Adviser to Senator Omo-Agege.