The long awaited day (Tuesday, October 6, 2026) finally arrived in Kokodiagbene Community with great anticipation as stakeholders of Kokodiagbene Youth Development Movement (KYDM)—the youth arm of the oil-rich riverine community in the ancient Gbaramatu Kingdom—swarmed in their large numbers to the community town hall, the battle ground were selected delegates would determine the next set of executive leadership that will preside over the youth body for the next three years.

Determined to leave office with one more achievement of a peaceful and transparent election added to his legacies, the KYDM President, Comrade Blessing Laide A.K.A Egbengben, alongside other youth elders had instituted an Electoral Committee manned by a former president, Comrade Superior Adurumokumor, with Secretary, Comrade Bako Igere and members: Comrades Esther David and Happy Evene.

Sale of Expression of Interest forms were announced by the Eleco. Interested aspirants purchased theirs in line with their ambitions. Some made public their aspirations, others went about theirs quietly as they all began their consultations while seeking support from stakeholders.

Then came the screening of aspirants on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, by the Electoral Committee, to ensure that the aspirations of aspirants were in line with the requirements of the youth body. The exercise was observed by the prominent Yirindewei of the ancient Gbaramatu Kingdom, Chief (Capt.) Felix Eguare, JP, and women leader, Dcns. (Mrs.) Ati Odafe, among other stakeholders during the screening exercise. 

In all, all 18 aspirants who had purchased forms were successfully screened and given a pass to contest for the desired offices as indicated in their purchased forms on election Day (Tuesday, October 6) as announced by the Eleco.

They are Doutimi Prince Cousin (President), Comrade Doubra Timiyan (President), Gideon Okoromadu (Vice President), Oweipade Eyebo, (Vice President), Henry Aaron (Vice President), Theresa Tolar (Secretary), Felix Bekenawei (Secretary), Felix Akoto (Secretary), Tare Odogbo (Assistant Secretary), Diamond Howel (P.R.O), Etuemi Michael Emiko (P.R.O), Christabel Eguare (Financial Secretary), Princess Ukuli (Financial Secretary), Victor Daniel (Asst Financial Secretary), Felicia Laide (Treasurer), Deborah Torudon (Treasurer), Marvelous Igere (Provost) and Tombra Pito (Provost).

However, in less than 48 hours after the screening, the tensed atmosphere for the presidential race eased when one of the popular contenders, Comrade Timiyan, announced his decision to withdraw from the race and to support the candidacy of his rival, Comrade Doutimi Prince Cousin, a decision many stakeholders hailed as a show of maturity and a demonstration of patriotic leadership. 

The decision of Comrade Timiyan instantly shifted the attention of stakeholders away from the anticipated topmost position to those of Vice President, Secretary, Public Relations Officer, Financial Secretary, and even that of Provost—keenly contested positions. Yet, those of Assistant Secretary and Assistant Financial Secretary had no opposition.

However, on election day, before the polls, the Eleco would not let go of contenders that easily, whether they had opposition or not. Everyone must unveil their manifesto at a general assembly to intimate stakeholders of their plans to take the KYDM body to the next level of its existence. Few hours to the election, the 17 candidates presented theirs and were drilled by stakeholders who painstakingly subjected them to a Question and Answer session. Whether they were convincing or not in their presentation is a decision left for their audience.

Finally, delegates numbering 30, selected from the three quarters of Ebiabu, Agugu and Ugeh (each assigned 10) took turns to vote in a secret ballot system. The voting process went smoothly until a heated contest that resulted in a tie for the positions of P.R.O and Financial Secretary, which led into another round of voting until winners emerged.

As always, in every contest, there are winners and losers. But for the KYDM election, it was a family affair as expressed by the current President, Comrade Laide, in his congratulatory speech wherein he hailed all contenders whose participation in the process was a win situation for all. 

As Egbengben bows out of office in November 2026, some have began to shift their focus to 2029. After all, in politics, years can become days, and hours could be counted as seconds. But whenever the episodes of the KYDM 2026 election are narrated, the names of certain stakeholders, whose decisions helped shape the success of the election process and its outcome, will always surface. By their acts, they have just appended their names in the history books of KYDM!

View photos of presentation of manifesto here: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1DXnxoN6Fk/