Imo CGC Election, A Test Case For 2015 As the Community Government Council CGC election took place on Saturday, March 8, 2014 in almost all the 637 Communities in the State, a visit to some Communities like Obiorodo in Mbaitolu, Umueleke in Orlu Akabo in Ikeduru Local Government Area, Nneise Ihitte in Ezinihite Mbaise Local Government Area showed that there was large turnout of voters who cued behind their choice candidates calmly waiting to be counted. The Communities were peaceful and orderly while the election was conducted under the option A4 system. There were isolated cases of none or late arrival of electoral officers and materials in addition to quarrels and disagreement in some places leading to election disruptions. Meanwhile, the Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha monitored the election in some Communities in Ideator North and South Local Government Areas. The Communities he visited include; Amaezeala, Ogboko, Omumaisiaku, Ugbele, Umueshi and Amanafor Communities. Addressing the people, Governor Okorocha expressed joy that the election was peaceful, free and fair, adding that the CGC have come to stay. He pointed out that it is Government of the people by the people, and commended Imo people for participating actively in the election. He also congratulated those who emerged victorious stressing that they would soon come to Owerri for inauguration. The elective positions mostly vied for included; the President General, Secretary, Woman leader and Youth leader. While some stakeholders in the State expressed satisfaction with the impressive turn out of people during the election, saying that voters were orderly and peaceful in places like Owerri West and Ahiazu Mbaise Local Government Areas, others expressed disappointment in the situation in some locations where opposition Parties were said to have turned people back, thereby disrupting the exercise. In Aboh Mbaise, Communities like Amaohuru Nguru and Umuhu autonomous Communities, had the elections concluded before 12.30 noon without any hitches or rancor. Nonetheless, in Amaohuru Nguru, the presiding officer, Kenneth Oti said he worked with Innocent Ogwu and conducted the election in a peaceful atmosphere. He announced that under a free and fair election process, Azubuike Uzoma who poled 423 votes against Nwachukwu Chidi who got 80 votes won the post of Youth leader. While Nwoke Grace withdrew for Anyanwu Glory who emerged the Woman leader with 391 votes, Boniface Njoku withdrew for Nwahiri Pashcal who became the President General with a total of 365 votes. He said that the only slight discomfort he experienced was that the people who saw that the line they were queuing were not the winning, they quickly join the wining line. Meanwhile, in Ibeku, the Presiding officers, Mrs. Iwuji J.O and Mrs. Chibuzo Mary , Njoku Banabas, and the Youth Copper, Odega Patrick were said to have been whisked away by the Aboh Mbaise Transition Committee Chairman, Dr. Victor Ukpabi when the scene became rowdy. Although Dr Victor Ukpabi could not be reached as at the time of filing this report, the group of about one hundred Ibeku indigenes marched to the Palace of the Traditional Ruler, HRH Eze Kachi Ukpabi to lay their protest that the election was disrupted by the TC Chairman. They also vowed to resist every imposition of candidate from any quarters because they would not be cowed to accept candidates that they cannot work with in the Community. Narrating the outcome of the election in Ibeku, the C.O.C, I.k Nwokeoma said that the TC Chairman, Dr. Victor Ukpabi had arrived the venue of the election to announce that only three people, Victor Osuji, Agatha Ike and Dan Nwagwu were the only screened candidates for the posts of President General, Woman leader and Youth leader respectively it was at this development that the voters quickly called the Traditional Ruler on phone who came and intervened by agreeing with the TC Chairman and the electoral officers that every interested candidate should enter the race since the so-called screening was not made Public. He narrated that during the first election for the post of the President General, Alozie Theodor had longer line of supporters than the earlier announced Victor Osuji, the TC Chairman and his team engrossed in a chat with the electoral officers, after which they whisked them away thereby disrupting the election. The people therefore resolved to write a communiqué to the Commissioner for Community Government and Chieftaincy Affairs that they would resist any imposition of candidates. In Umuanumanu also in Aboh Mbaise Local Government, the Youths were said to have started disorganizing the lines when the Traditional Ruler HRH Eze Nwaturuocha was called in to intervene. He intervened by whisking the electoral officers to the Local Government Headquarters Aboh when some Youths accosted them and beat up the Traditional Ruler. In Acharaubo, Owerri North L.G.A, the election was disrupted as the villagers chanted war songs to the gates of a close- by Media House to relay their complaint against what they called unwanted disqualification of some Candidates. A spokesperson of the group, Mr. Athanasius Chukwu accused the electoral Officers in the area of favoring certain candidates whom they claimed have served the CGC. He said they got to the venue of the election only to discover that people there had already cooked up with the electoral officers, people working with the CGC. He said that the autonomous Communities zoned their offices, and the people working in the CGC disqualified other members so as to retain their seats. He said that the so-called disqualified candidates had earlier passed through the screening exercise and wondered why they should not be allowed to contest. A Woman leader aspirant accused the electoral officers of having a vested interest on some candidates that were not popular with the people. She called on the State Government to cancel the election because those elected ran contrary to the wishes of the Community. In Orlu Local Government Area, the stakeholders described the conduct of the CGC election as satisfactory, adding that Imo people as Republican used the opportunity of the CGC election to realize their aspiration through the open ballot system. Most Orlu people were of the view that the CGC has come to stay and the people were deeply appreciative of Governor Okorocha for his noble ideas for the Country, adding that the Country would be greatly improve if other Governors emulated him in establishing the CGC. Meanwhile, the CGC election in the 22 autonomous Communities in Okigwe Local Government Area was generally peaceful as people came out in large numbers to vote candidates of their choice as President General, Woman leader and Youth leaders. Addressing the contestants, in Urban Ward 2 the Transition Committee Chairman of the Area, Pastor Frank Onwumere said that the purpose of CGC is to bring Democracy to the grassroots for meaningful development and commended the election in Amaku, Ihube and other Communities in the Local Government.
Posted on: Sun, 09 Mar 2014 12:25:31 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015