Crisis engulfs Ohanaeze Ndigbo election

• Leaders Seek Shift
• 400,000 Ohanaeze Ndigbo Delegates To Storm Owerri

Crisis may have engulfed the national election of Ohanaeze Ndigbo scheduled to hold in Owerri, Imo State, today, as some prominent Igbos under the guise of Concerned Ime-Obi members, yesterday, demanded that the election be postponed for another two months to make room for resolution of lingering issues.

But President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo, whose tenure ends by midnight, today, said there was no going back in the election, stressing that Ohanaeze Constitution did not make provision for an interim administration.

Nwodo, who spoke through his Media Aide, Emeka Attamah, said altering the election would give room for litigation.

Nwodo’s position came as former Secretary-General and a Presidential candidate in the election, Dr. Joe Nwaorgu, backed out of the election, describing the entire process as a farce.

Nwaorgu, who said he purchased and returned his nomination forms after paying N500, 000, said: “I don’t want to be part of it. I don’t subscribe to the sale of Ohanaeze entirely to the governors. I have nothing to do with it. I have not seen Ohanaeze at its low ebb as we are seeing now.”

But another presidential candidate, Chief Goddy Uwazuruike, vowed to run till the end. “The problem is that we don’t know who the delegates are. Everything is shrouded in secrecy. There is no clear information about the election, but I cannot get to this stage and chicken out, no matter the antics,” he said.

The Concerned Ime-Obi Zoom meeting convened, following disturbing reports from the states over the election, asked that the running of the organisation be handed over to the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), while efforts were intensified to conduct the election within two months.

Its communique was signed by leaders drawn from the five states of the Southeast, as well as Rivers and Delta states.

They recommended that efforts be made to draw key stakeholders’ attention to the need to step in and ensure that the elections are conducted in a way that unites rather than divides, permanently damages, and embarrasses the Igbo nation. 

They said: “The fundamentals for open, free, fair, credible and transparent elections have been breached brazenly. There are no official guidelines; there is no information on venues for elections at all levels, and no official statement on nomination forms. Yet, some people have paid and names were drawn up for LGA elections that did not hold anywhere.

“There are no official lists of National General Assembly statutory members and the ones that are associated with the states, as required by the Ohanaeze Constitution and we wonder when the contestants would receive the delegates lists. Based on the foregoing and the compelling need to achieve fairness, transparency, and integrity of the process, it is recommended that all the elections be postponed by two months…” 

Speaking further on his decision to quit the election, Nwaorgu said:

Investigation by The Guardian showed that no election held at the local and state government levels, though some persons were allegedly invited to sign a certificate of returns.

Meanwhile, Dan Anyiam Stadium, located on Wethdral Road, Owerri, capital of Imo State, will be stormed by about 400,000 delegates from the Ohanaeze Ndigbo member states, who are expected to elect the President-General and other officials.

The PG of the apex Igbo socio-cultural body is zoned to Imo State, to replace the outgoing, Chief Nnia Nwodo (Enugu State).

Consequently, Governor Hope Uzodimma, a prominent Igbo leader, and Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, among others, have supported Nigeria’s former Ambassador to the United States, Prof. George Obiozor, Dr. Chris Asoluka (a former Commissioner for Finance); Prof. Ukachukwu Awuzie (a former Imo State University Vice-Chancellor); and Prof. Chidi Osuagwu. 

Iwuanyanwu was appointed to select a consensus candidate from the state, which led to Obiozor’s emergence. The candidate was later presented to Uzodimma at the Government House, Owerri. This was replicated some days ago to the Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi.

Chairman of the electoral committee, Chief Gary Enwo-Igariwey, and a member of sub-committee, Dr. Prosper Success, said yesterday that they had put necessary facilities on the ground to ensure that the delegates and officials observe the COVID- 19 containment/safety measures and protocol.