Okorocha orders new chairmen to reside at council headquarters

The newly elected chairmen of the 27 local councils in Imo State were sworn-in yesterday at the Sam Mbakwe Expanded Executive Council Chambers, Government House, Owerri.

Governor Rochas Okorocha, however, directed them to reside at their respective council headquarters or face impeachment.

A representative of the Chief Judge, Paschal Nnadi, Justice Theophilus Nzeukwu, administered the oath of office and allegiance on them.

Chairman, Imo State Independent Electoral Commission (ISIEC), Ethelbert Ibebuchi, declared the chairmen, who are all members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) winners on Sunday after Saturday’s election in 27 local councils and 645 communities.

While APC won in 636 communities in councillorship positions, four other clinched one seat each, while elections in four wards were declared inconclusive.

Okorocha advised them to shun corruption, urging them to incorporate the down trodden in their areas, reminding them that their election was trust that must not be abused in order to benefit the masses.

The chairmen are, Chidi Nwaturuocha (Aboh Mbaise), Evan Obinna N. Chinwe (Ngor-Okpala), Chizoba O. Chizoba (Nwangele), Obiora Kenneth (Njaba), Mbagwu Augustine (Nkwerre), Okezie Paschal (Obowo), G.T.O Mgborokwu (Oguta), Amadi Ebenezar (Ohaji/Egbema), Clement Onwumere (Okigwe), Augustus Chikezie (Onuimo), Ikechukwu O. Daniel (Orlu), Okonkwo Kingsley Ndubuisi (Orsu) and Duru Evaristus (Oru-East),

Others are Udemba Obi (Oru-West), Joseph Agor (Owerri Municipal), Vitalis O. Anyaegbu (Owerri North), Anthony Chidi (Owerri West), Onuoha Adolphus (Ahiazu Mbaise), Nwosu Reginald C. (Ehime Mbano), Chioma Tycloon Onwumere (Ezinihitte), Dr. Joy Ezebuiro (Ideato North), Osuorji Emeka (Ideato South), Jude Mbachu E. (Isiala Mbano), Metu Chukwunyere (Ikeduru), Bonaventure Okafor (Ihitte-Uboma), Nwadike Chimezie (Isu) and Bethram Mbah (Mbaitoli).

However, a political pressure group in Ondo State, the APC Rescue Mandate, has accused Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of working against the party and President Muhammadu Buhari’s chances in the 2019 elections.

Convener of the group, Michael Olorunfemi, stated this during a media briefing in Akure yesterday, lamenting that the Akeredolu-led administration was marginalising its members, saying: “It is clear that anybody who is not a member of Aketi Group is not a bona fide member of the Ondo APC.”

Meanwhile, the APC in Enugu State has insisted that it was not in any discussions with either the People for Democratic Change (PDC) or All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) for an alliance ahead of the 2019 polls.

The party said it was wrong for aspirants who joined it from the PDC and APGA to insert their logo and those of their former political parties on their campaign posters.

State Chairman of the party, Ben Nwoye, who made the clarification at Amechi, Awkunanaw, Enugu South Local Council, during the formal declaration of Nsude Oguejiofor Nnaji, to contest the Enugu North/South federal constituency in the 2019 elections, cautioned those who have engaged in the act to desist.