Stakeholders in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State have applauded Senator Ede Dafinone and Hon. Francis Waive for their contributions to the restoration of the Ughelli South II State Constituency, as political parties prepare for the process ahead of the September 19, 2026, elections.
The commendation followed the decision by the Independent National Electoral Commission to restore Ughelli South II alongside Abraka and Isoko North II in Delta State, as well as Yagba West II in Kogi State, following relevant court judgments.
INEC has fixed September 19, 2026, for elections into the restored constituencies, with party primaries scheduled for August 21 to 25, 2026.
The restoration of Ughelli South II ends a 27-year period of political exclusion, during which communities within the constituency had no distinct representation in the Delta State House of Assembly since 1999.
Coordinator of the Niger Delta Peace Coalition, Zik Gbemre, specifically praised Senator Dafinone, representing Delta Central Senatorial District, for his role in advancing the restoration effort.
“Ughelli South has Senator Ede Dafinone to thank for championing the cause with connection and financial support before anyone else,” Gbemre said.
Similarly, a former Leader of the Ughelli South Local Government Legislature, Chief Sunny Apah, acknowledged the contributions of several stakeholders to the process, including Chief John Oguma, Hon. Francis Waive, member representing Ughelli South/Udu Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, and the Ughelli South Local Government Chairman, Dr. Lucky Avweromre.
APC chieftain, Olorogun Adelabu Bodjor, described the restoration as “good and a huge relief” to the people of Ughelli South.
According to him, the development had corrected the representational anomaly created by the previous arrangement.
Bodjor also commended the Ughelli South political class and Senator Dafinone for their efforts, expressing optimism that the September 19 election would produce “vibrant representatives” capable of effectively representing the people.
The incumbent representative of Ughelli South State Constituency, Hon. Festus Utuama, also welcomed the restoration, saying the return of the second constituency would ease the legislative burden previously carried by one representative.
“The restoration of our Second Constituency is indeed welcome news to our people. A burden previously carried by one representative will now be shared by two and there can be no better relief than this,” Utuama said.
Under the restored arrangement, Utuama is expected to represent Ughelli South I, while residents of Ughelli South II will elect their own representative at the September 19 poll.
With INEC’s restoration now formally recognised, political attention has shifted to the parties and prospective candidates as the August 21–25 primary window approaches.
For stakeholders in Ughelli South, the development represents more than another election. They see it as the restoration of direct democratic representation to communities that had been without a distinct State Assembly constituency for nearly three decades, while acknowledging the roles played by Dafinone, Waive and other stakeholders in the long-running effort.
