The Chairman of Ughelli North Local Government Area in Delta State, Jaro Egbo, reportedly slapped the local Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chairman, Lucky Ofomukoro, during a heated disagreement at a town hall meeting, according to eyewitnesses who spoke to SaharaReporters.
Sources revealed that the altercation escalated when Ofomukoro retaliated immediately after being slapped by Egbo, leading to a brief scuffle between the two officials.
The incident, which took place on Wednesday, occurred during a town hall meeting in Ughelli. The meeting had been convened by the Senior Political Adviser to the Delta State Governor, Senator Emmanuel Edesiri Aguariavwodo, with the presence of Urhobo chiefs, political leaders, and PDP members from the area.
According to reports, the disagreement began when PDP Chairman Ofomukoro gave a party member the floor to speak. Egbo, however, opposed the move, instructing the member to sit down. When Ofomukoro stood his ground, tensions flared.
A former councillor, who was present at the meeting and chose to remain anonymous, recounted the event. He stated, “The council chairman, after slapping the PDP chairman in front of everyone, was immediately met with a slap in return. A brief fight broke out, and people stepped in to separate them.”
He added, “The council chairman’s actions were uncivilized and undemocratic. It was a needless confrontation, but Jaro is known for creating scenes. I witnessed the whole incident, and Jaro was clearly in the wrong for being the first to raise his hand. It was truly a shameful display.”
Despite the altercation, the meeting was eventually brought under control through the intervention of Senator Aguariavwodo and other local leaders. After the situation was calmed, the meeting proceeded to its conclusion.
During the same event, Senator Aguariavwodo, the Senior Political Adviser to the governor, made an emotional plea to Urhobo monarchs, religious figures, PDP members, and the Urhobo Progressive Union (UPU). He urged them to support Governor Sheriff Oborevwori in achieving his MORE agenda and to back his re-election bid in 2027.
Aguariavwodo, a former Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and ex-senator for Delta Central, emphasized the importance of peace, unity, and cooperation within the senatorial district. He remarked, “Your unity, peaceful co-existence, and love will pave the way for our son, Governor Oborevwori, to secure a second term. Let’s come together and work for the success of the party in 2027.”
In response to the allegations, Jaro Egbo denied slapping the PDP chairman. He claimed that the reports were politically motivated, alleging that the entire incident was orchestrated by someone affiliated with the All Progressive Congress (APC).
“It’s all fabricated. I didn’t slap anyone,” Egbo said. “Yes, there was a minor scuffle, but it was caused by an APC supporter. I couldn’t have slapped the PDP chairman—he’s like my boy. Even if I did, he wouldn’t dare slap me back. But let me be clear: nothing of the sort happened during that meeting.”
This incident follows another controversy involving Egbo in August, when Delta State-based investigative journalist Prince Amour Udemude accused the council chairman of making threats against his life. Udemude claimed Egbo had vowed to harm him if he published a report about the rise in fees for locked-up and open market shops in the area.
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