Tension in Enugu community over inconclusive traditional ruler election

By Our Reporter

Attempt by Enugu State Ministry of Chieftaincy Matters to conduct election in Alor-Agu community, Igboeze-South Local Government Area  to get a new traditional ruler for the community has ended in deadlock.

Mr Christian Ugwuanyi and Mr Okwu Omeke are two people  in the igweship contest in Alor-Agu, on who would succeed late Simon Ameh, the last Traditional Ruler of the community who died in 2018.

Speaking  to newsmen on Monday shortly after the inconclusive election, Mr Emmanuel Jonathan, a member of the community and a stakeholder expressed  his dissatisfaction on the delegates from the chieftaincy for abandoning the election midway.

He noted that Omeke deliberately instigated crisis on noticing that he would lose the election.

"The target is to create unhealthy atmosphere because he  realised that he will will lose the election given the mammoth crowd on his opponent said.

"Regrettably, the delegates from the ministry left the venue to the surprise of the everybody without even informing clergymen who we are still counting the votes or confirming his allegation," he said.

Jonathan said that,  mere allegation by Omeke that three clergymen serving as electoral officers were favouring his  opponent (Ugwuanyi) was not enough for delegates to leave the venue.

"I do not see good reason for  team from Chieftaincy led by Mrs Ugochukwu Ozoagu, Deputy Director of Chieftaincy in the ministry  to jumped  into the bus and zoomed off.

"Notminding heavy presence of security agencies at the venue made up of military, police, Civil Defense, Neighbourhood Watch  among others.

"Even peading from many stakeholders in the community  urging the team to wait and conclude the election so that the community will know who's the traditional ruler elect. was ignored," he said.

He said it was because the community wanted the election to be free and fair that option A4 was used in the election in which members of the community queued at the back of candidates of their choice.

Also speaking with newsmen, Rev. Fr Emmanuel Okenyi who spoke on behalf of the clergymen who acted as electoral officers, said that they decided to assist in the election to ensure transparent, free and fair election.

"This traditional ruler tussel has lasted over past three years in this community and has immensely  affected progress of the community since the community has no traditional ruler to handle its affairs or to represent it outside," he said.

Okenyi expressed disappointment and described allegation by Omeke that himself and other two Anglican priests who acted as electoral officers to count people on the queue, manipulated the counting to favour Ugwuanyi as unfounded baseless and false.

"We sacrificed our energy and time to involve in this exercise to ensure the election is free and fair since we are men of God  who want the community to move forward.

"It's unfortunate that the team from the ministry who allowed us to act as electoral officers left the venue of the election when counting is already in progress without even informing us.

Reacting, Mr Christian Ugwuanyi, one of the contestant expressed concern why his opponent Omeke should disrupt the election which counting was already in progress.

" My opponent saw that he is losing, majority of people queued behind me.

"Okwu disrupted the election and ask team from ministry of Chieftaincy to go because he is afraid he has lost.

"Enugu State Government should immediately intervene  and come back to complete the election or issue me with certificate of recognition as the traditional ruler of Alor-Agu.

Also reacting to the inconclusive election, Omeke (contestant) expressed disappointment how clergymen acting as umpire in the election started  manipulating the counting to favour his opponent (Ugwuanyi) to enable him to emerge as the winner.

"They know I am coasting to victory as many people are supporting me.

"I want the ministry to come back and conclude this election with unbiased electoral officers because I know I will win,"he said

Mr. Amaechi Ugwu, the immediate past Town Union President  General of the community, Mr Chris Omeje, former Igbo-Eze South LG  Council Chairman and Mr Sam Ugwuanyi an Elder Statesman in their separate reactions expressed sadness on the disruption of the election even when counting was in progress.

They however blamed Omeke (one of the contestants for aborting the effort of the community to elect their next ruler through a democratic process when he discovered he would lose.

They expressed concern on who the team from ministry for hurriedly leaving the venue without any violence or provocation,despite heavy presence of security agencies in the venue to protect everybody.

Efforts by our reporter to get comment from Mr Emeka Nbuife, the Public Relation Officer of Enugu State Ministry of Chieftaincy Matters,who was part of the team, on why the ministry didn't conclude the election at Alor-Agu community proved unsuccessful.

As both calls and text messages sent to his mobile phone were not replied as at the time of filing this report.