Sapele is a town and one of the Local Government Area in Delta State, Nigeria. The origin of the name is believed to be an anglicized derivation of the Okpe word 'Uriapele', named after a local deity, the shrine of which can still be found in the centre of the city. The British colonial authorities changed the name of the then hamlet to Sapele as it was easier to pronounce. Sapele is occupied by the Okpe people. It is under the jurisdiction of the Orodje of Okpe kingdom.