Crisis Looms in Udu Kingdom as Chief Priest Nabowa Declares Himself Traditional Ruler of Orhuwhorun

Folalumi Alaran in Abuja

A fresh chieftaincy crisis has erupted in Udu Kingdom, Delta State, following a unilateral declaration by Chief Priest Nabowa, the traditional priest of the Okaka shrine in Orhuwhorun, that he is the rightful traditional ruler of the community. Nabowa, who is also known in the community as the Osun of Orhuwhorun, made the declaration on Tuesday during a gathering of his supporters at the Okaka shrine grounds.

In a speech laced with threats, Nabowa warned anyone loyal to the late Ovie of Udu Kingdom, His Royal Majesty Barrister Emmanuel Bethel Otete (Owhoru I), to stay away from Orhuwhorun. He accused the late monarch’s family of attempting to impose an heir “who does not respect the gods of this land.”

“The throne of Orhuwhorun is not for sale. I am the custodian of the shrine, and the gods have chosen me. Anyone who follows the dead king’s favoured son will face the wrath of the ancestors,” Nabowa said in the local Urhobo dialect.

Nabowa also reportedly claimed that the succession to the larger Udu throne remains unresolved and that the late Ovie’s public naming of his last son as heir was a violation of custom. He called on kingmakers to recognize him as the independent ruler of Orhuwhorun, a move that threatens to split the already volatile kingdom.

Tensions Rise
The declaration has sparked fear among residents of Aladja and surrounding communities. Several families who are known to be loyal to the late Ovie’s household have reportedly gone into hiding. A palace source, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Delta Voice:

“This is not mere rhetoric. Chief Priest Nabowa has a following, and he has made similar threats before. The late Ovie had to increase security around his children because of Nabowa’s faction. Now that the king is gone, the danger is real.”

The late Ovie, a barrister and former justice of the peace, passed away on February 24, 2025, after a prolonged spinal illness. Before his death, he had openly named his youngest son, Reginald Oghenemine Delekpe, as his preferred heir, a decision that angered rival claimants and traditional priest Nabowa.

Appeal for Calm
The Otota of Udu Kingdom, Sir Chief Sam Odibo, called for calm but declined to condemn Nabowa’s declaration. In a brief statement, Odibo said the matter “is before the kingmakers” and advised both sides to avoid violence.

Efforts to reach the Delta State Police Command for comment were unsuccessful. A police source in Aladja station, who requested anonymity, said the matter is “a family and chieftaincy affair” and that the police would intervene only if a formal complaint of violence is lodged.

Background
Chief Priest Nabowa has a long history of contesting the authority of the Udu monarchy. Community records indicate that he attempted to establish an independent throne in Orhuwhorun as far back as 2019, around the same time that two assassination attempts were made against the late Ovie’s youngest son. No one was ever arrested in connection with those attempts.

Residents fear that Nabowa’s latest move could ignite a violent succession war reminiscent of the Ughievwen Kingdom crisis, which fractured into multiple rival monarchies for over twenty years.