Confusion in Awka over town union election

AWKA—THERE is confusion in the Anambra State capital, Awka following an attempt by some titled men in the area to force the incumbent President General of Awka Development Union Nigeria, ADUN, Mr. Tony Okechukwu out of office. Okechukwu’s three –year tenure expired on March 17, 2015, but because of the general elections, the state government shifted all pending town union elections until the end of the 2015 general elections.

Gov. Willie Obiano

Though Okechukwu and his team had concluded arrangements to conduct the election on March 7, 2015, it had to shelve it following a letter signed by the special adviser to the Anambra State governor on chieftaincy and town union matters, Mr. R.O. Udemba, directing that all town union elections should be put on hold.

The letter from government reads: “Please kindly note that in view of the upcoming general elections in the country, there is the compelling need to maintain peace and order in all the communities in the state. Consequently, all town union elections will be kept on hold until after the conduct of the general elections.

“This policy implies that Awka Development Union election scheduled for March 7, 2015 has been suspended in this circumstance. In the light of the above, the present Awka Development Union executive should hold forth, while the town union election shall be conducted within the first half of the month of May, 2015.”

However, a section of the community, apparently not aware of the government’s directive, held a meeting in Awka during which they accused the PG of trying to perpetuate himself in office after the expiration of his tenure on March 17, 2015.

At the end of the meeting, seven persons, with Chief Chike Obuekwe as chairman, were appointed to represent the seven villages and oversee the affairs of the town, pending the election of new executive for ADUN within six months.

But Okechukwu has insisted that the meeting convened by the group was illegal, null and void, adding that it was only the eldest man in Awka that was authorized to convene such a meeting. He called on those interested in the election to be patient until May, 2015 when the election would be held, promising that his executive would conduct free, fair and credible election when the time comes.

However, the secretary of Ozo Awka, a group of titled men in Awka, Dr. Aneze Chinwuba said Awka constitution does not provide for tenure elongation, adding that Okechukwu has ceased to be the PG for Awka since March 17, 2015. He said: “Our constitution says that election of new PG must be conducted three months to the expiration of the tenure of the incumbent, but Okechukwu started talking about the election after Awka people had started complaining about the sit tight attitude of the PG.

“He wanted an extension and was telling people that he needed more time to organize the election, which was why three different groups in Awka wrote the state government to object the suggestion for the extension.” In the midst of the confusion, the Izu Awka, an assembly of all Awka people, met and insisted on the appointment of caretaker committee, pending the conduct of the election in May as directed by the state government.

According to Chinwuba, we first visited the eldest man in Awka who blessed everybody before the meeting was held at Obu Awka, with all the branch presidents of Awka Development Union Nigeria in attendance, adding that it was at that meeting that seven persons were selected to serve as members of the caretaker committee.

Chinwuba said further: “We have written the state governor, notifying him of the decision of Awka people. Awka is against tenure elongation and if anybody tells Okechukwu that he will stay beyond his tenure, that person is merely encouraging tenure elongation which is not in our constitution. “The seven persons that have been selected as caretaker committee members are standing by for the governor to approve their nominations.”

As it stands, everything is quiet for now in Awka, apparently because of the general elections. With the elections over, indications are that the contending parties would begin to press the necessary buttons to achieve their aims.

SOURCE VANGAUARD