KOTA KINABALU, January 19, 2026 – President of the United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation (UPKO), Datuk Ewon Benedick, has officially announced his readiness to re-contest and defend the presidency of the party for the upcoming term in the 2026 party election.
The announcement was made while officiating the launch of the 17th UPKO Triennial Delegates Conference at the Sabah International Convention Centre (SICC), Kota Kinabalu, on 18 January.
According to Datuk Ewon, 2026 will be a year of elections at all levels of the party, with the UPKO Congress scheduled to take place on 8 and 9 August, in line with the party’s constitution.
“This election process will be conducted democratically, transparently, and efficiently. Party members have full freedom to choose their leadership,” he said in his opening speech at the event.
He expressed hope that the election would serve as a unifying platform rather than a divisive one. The chosen leadership must be based on merit, high potential, and a strong commitment to serve the people and Sabah.
Datuk Ewon acknowledged that UPKO under his leadership is not perfect and still has shortcomings, but he pledged to continue improving the party over time.
He highlighted lessons from the previous Sabah state election, which underscored the urgent need to strengthen the party’s machinery at the grassroots level, particularly in every state constituency (DUN area).
“We cannot win elections with mere wishes alone. Strengthening the party machinery is the key,” he emphasised.
He urged all divisions intending to contest in future elections to use this triennial delegates conference to consolidate branches and state constituency leadership committees.
If necessary, amendments to the party constitution could be considered to strengthen state-level constituency leadership institutions, provided they receive full support from all divisions.
In addition, UPKO will enhance the role of the party’s elected representatives in policy-making, including greater involvement from the Advisory Council and the party’s Election Director. UPKO elected representatives are described as the party’s main public face, required to lead the struggle, deliver services, and embody leadership, while remaining free from any controversy.
Datuk Ewon reiterated the commitment to the initiative “One Division, One Association, One Cooperative, One Success Story” to diversify the party’s organisational strength. More programmes such as retreats, forums, and conventions related to the Sabah First agenda will also be organised.
He welcomed new members but stressed that the establishment of new branches or divisions must undergo a two-year process of ideological orientation and appreciation of the party’s struggle before receiving approval from the Supreme Council.
This announcement marks the beginning of internal campaigning within UPKO ahead of the party election, which is expected to be a major focus in Sabah’s political landscape this year.
About The Author
