From TCNEWS
Major stakeholders in Ohafor ward in Ohafia South State Constituency, Ohafia L.G.A, of Abia State have cried out to Governor Alex Otti over the alleged imposition of a Councillorship candidate, allegedly orchestrated by the Deputy Governor, Engr. Ikechukwu Emetu, who is from Isiama ward.
In a Save Our Soul message to the Governor, signed by Chief Engr. Bernard Agwu Ukaiwe; Mr. Onum Odizia Eni: among other thirty six stakeholders, passionately appealed to the Governor and Senator Darlington Nwokocha to correct the anomaly for the sake of peace and unity in the ward, that carried out wider consultation before arriving at a consensus candidate, which was allegedly jettisoned by the Deputy Governor.
The message partly read, “We the undersigned Stakeholders and Leaders of Ohafor ward, Ohafia LGA after an emergency Stakeholders and Leaders meeting of the ward do hereby resolved and wish to bring to attention of Your Excellency to the happenings as it concerns the selection and nomination of the Councillorship candidate for our ward.
“The Stakeholder and Leaders did held a meeting on Monday the 30th of September, 2024 at the instance of the Honourable Member representing Ohafia South State Constituency in the Abia State House of Assembly, who is a member of our ward – Ohafor, where he notified the house of the outcome and directive of your Excellency concerning the need for all Stakeholder and Leaders of the ward to meet and collectively select and nominate a consensus councillorship candidate for the ward.
“In adhering to the above directive, all the councillorship aspirants were invited and the following Forty-Nine (49) Stakeholders and Leaders were in attendance: Hon. Kalu Mba Nwoke; Elder Obinna Odum; Mr. Kalu Nmecha (Ward Chairman); Mrs. Oyidiya Gabriel (Woman Leaders); Onyema Oke Kalu; High Chief Bernard Agwu Ukoha; Elder Ejituru Eyeh; Elder Ndukwe Ukpai Onum; Chief Odiza Eni; Chief Kalu Bassey; Mrs. Joy lke; Obinna Eke Ogba; Obinna Offia; Ebere Kalu; Iroha ldika; Bernard Eziyi; Ibe Ogwo; lbe Okpo; Ebere Uka; Kalu Oke; Uma Uduma; Agwu Nkuma; Obinna Olugu; Uche ldika; Hon. Ukiwe ldika; Obuma Emea; Obasi Amogu Oka; Harrison Otta Iro; lfeanyi Ezera Chiori; Uchendu Agwu Eni; Ukaha Kalu Ukonu; Emeka Ukpai; Okeh Kalu Anya; Okoro Chibuike Oden; Ugochukvwu Mba Kalu; Chikordi Ukpai; Sunday Ndukwe Uka; Obinna lkechukwu; Nnenna lfendu (Represented); Deaconess Njum (Represented); Agwu Eke Ogba; Chinacherem Ezera; Jonathan Kalu; Obuma Mba; Kalu Emeka Agwu Uduma; Peter Kalu Ogba; lbe Kalu Mba; Chinwe Chukwu and; Sir Oka lgwe.
“After the attendance record taking, it was agreed that the selection and nomination shall be done through open ballot voting whereby all the person present shall be given a piece of paper to write the name of his or her chosen candidate.
“While the process was still going on, Elder Obinna Odum and Uchendu Agwu Eni, one of the contestants staged a walkout with seven other members. Three out of the four contestants remained and the voting and selection process continued.
“At the end of the exercise, Amogu Obasi Oka emerged as the winner with the majority of vote cast polling a total votes of 27, followed by Harrison Otta.
“Following the outcome of the selection process, the house resolved to present only Amogu Obasi Oka as the consensus Councillorship candidate for Ohafor ward, which is the collective wish of the majority of the Stakeholders and Leaders of Ohafor Ward in Ohafia LGA. Mr. Amogu Obasi Oka was subsequently written by Hon. Kalu Mba Nwoke on the comprehensive list of all the councillorship aspirants from other wards as presented by their ward Stakeholders.
“Mr. Amogu Obasi Oka went ahead and was authorized by the Labour Party Acting State Chairman Emma Otti to proceed and pay for his expression of interest and Nomination Form which he did on Thursday 3rd October, 2024 and the forms were given to him by the Emma Otti led Executive of the party at the party’s office Umuahia, He has since completed his form and returned back same.
“The Stakeholders later learnt with total dismay, that the Deputy Governor substituted the name of Amogu Obasi Oka with that of Uchendu Agwu Eni who walked out from the venue of the selection and Nomination exercise. It is worthy to note that he, Uchendu Agwu Eni registered with the Labour Party just three weeks ago, having been a member of PDP where he worked for during the last general election.
“We have also noticed from the social media posting that Uchendu Agwu Eni has purchased again Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms making it two persons that have purchased forms in Ohafor ward for the position of Councillor”.
The Stakeholders passionately prayed that the wish of the majority of the Leaders and Stakeholders of Ohafor ward should be respected, and that Amogu Obasi Oka should be the only nominated candidate for the position of councillorship for Ohafor Ward.
The release passionately appealed that the prayers of the stakeholders be listened to and honoured so as to maintain the existing peace and harmony in the ward.