Azatitor CDC Crisis Explodes: Police Invoke Court Order, Tell Zeimoboghe To Stop Claiming Chairmanship

By Passman Akpos

The leadership dispute rocking Azatitor Community in Egbemo Clan, Ekeremor Local Government Area of Bayelsa State has taken a fresh turn following a reported directive by the Bayelsa State Police Command over compliance with a subsisting court order concerning the community’s Community Development Committee (CDC) chairmanship.

The development comes amid a legal battle between Comrade Garson Okegbe Brisibe and HRH Robinson Demeoru over the leadership of the community’s CDC.

According to documents made available to Tarakirivoice, the Chief Magistrate Court sitting in Toru-Orua, Toru-Orua Magisterial District, had on July 16, 2026, granted an interim injunction in Suit No. TMC/28/2026.

The suit was filed by Comrade Garson Okegbe Brisibe and Mr. Negiye Elijah, for themselves and on behalf of members of Omobo-Warl Compound, Azatitor Community.

The order, signed by Chief Magistrate Grade 2 Ebitare Timi, restrained HRH Robinson Demeoru, his servants, agents, privies, representatives or anyone acting under his authority from recognizing, accepting, inaugurating, swearing in or presenting any person other than the first plaintiff as Chairman of the Community Development Committee of Azatitor Community pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice.

The court adjourned the matter to July 31, 2026, for hearing.

POLICE PETITION FOLLOWED COURT ORDER

Following the court order, solicitors representing Garson Okegbe Brisibe petitioned the Commissioner of Police, Bayelsa State Command, on August 11, 2026.

The petition was directed against HRH Robinson Demeoru and several other individuals, including the person identified in the petition as the purported CDC Chairman, Mr. Joseph Zeimoboghe.

The lawyers alleged that continued recognition or presentation of another person as CDC Chairman could amount to disobedience of a subsisting court order and potentially create a breach of peace within the community.

Check Court order here 👇

The petition also urged the police to intervene over what the lawyers described as the unlawful parading of an individual as CDC Chairman of Azatitor Community.

The allegations contained in the petition are claims by the petitioners and have not, from the documents available to Tarakirivoice, been established by a final judgment.

POLICE DIRECTIVE REPORTED ON SEPTEMBER 22

The latest development reportedly occurred on September 22, 2026, when both sides met at the Bayelsa State Police Headquarters in Yenagoa.

formal petition here 👇

According to the account supplied to Tarakirivoice, the police directed HRH Robinson Demeoru to comply with the subsisting court order.

The police also reportedly told Joseph Zeimoboghe to stop presenting or parading himself as the CDC Chairman of Azatitor Community.

The reported directive has added another layer to an already tense leadership dispute, with the parties now expected to resolve the substantive issues through the appropriate legal and community processes.

HOW THE DISPUTE STARTED

Documents supplied to Tarakirivoice indicate that the controversy is connected to the rotational arrangement for the CDC chairmanship among the four compounds making up Azatitor Community.

A July 1, 2026 letter from the Omobo-Warl Compound to HRH Robinson Demeoru stated that the compound had conducted an election on February 14, 2026, during which Garson Okegbe Brisibe was unanimously elected and adopted as its nominee for CDC Chairman.

The letter stated that Azatitor Community comprises Penibo-Wari, Edue-Okikpo Wari, Omobo Wari and Enimighen-Wari compounds.

According to the document, the CDC chairmanship rotates among the compounds, and the outgoing administration had been produced by Penibo-Wari Compound.

The Omobo-Warl Compound therefore argued that it was its turn to produce the next CDC chairman.

GARSON INAUGURATED ON JULY 20

Tarakirivoice had earlier reported that Garson Okegbe Brisibe was inaugurated as Chairman of the Azatitor Federated Communities on July 20, 2026.

The inauguration was accompanied by celebrations involving supporters, youths, women and community members.

Videos circulated from the event showed Brisibe and members of his executive council moving through parts of the community amid celebrations.

Supporters described the inauguration as the beginning of a new administration and expressed expectations that the leadership would focus on unity, development, youth empowerment, education and security.

However, the competing claims over the CDC leadership have continued despite the inauguration.

COURT ORDER NOW AT CENTRE OF DISPUTE

At the centre of the latest development is the July 16 interim injunction.

While the order is interlocutory and does not constitute a final determination of all issues in the substantive dispute, its terms specifically restrained the defendant/respondent from recognizing or inaugurating anyone other than the first plaintiff as CDC Chairman pending the determination of the Motion on Notice

The latest reported police intervention therefore places renewed attention on compliance with the order while the underlying dispute remains before the court.

The development is also likely to heighten calls from community stakeholders for all parties to avoid actions capable of escalating tensions in the riverine community.

For now, the substantive legal battle over the legitimacy and authority of the competing CDC leadership remains unresolved, with the court expected to determine the issues before it.

Tarakirivoice will continue to monitor developments surrounding the Azatitor CDC leadership dispute and report further developments as they emerge.