Tension as Anambra community overrules regent, clears seven for Igweship election

There is tension in Amawbia community, Awka South Local Council, Anambra State, over election of a candidate for the traditional stool of the community.

The election, which is scheduled for tomorrow, has been embroiled in multiple legal issues.

The Guardian learnt that seven aspirants indicated interest to contest the Igwe stool, which became vacant, following the demise of the late Igwe, Chinyelu Molokwu.

It was gathered that the candidates were screened by the acting Igwe-in-Council, headed by Regent Emeka Maduka, who cleared only three of the seven contestants.

The seven contestants bidding for the Okpaligwe Amawbia stool are: Onywka Ifesi, a lawyer; Uche Okonkwo; Ndubuisi Okonkwo; Joseph Muo; Ozo Dan Maduka; Emeka Obi; and Raluchukwu Okeke, a United States of America-based engineer.

It was learnt that the Igweship constitution provides that the candidates pass through two stages of clearance by the Igwe-in-Council and an Electoral Committee set up by Amawbia Town Union (ATU), led by Godwin Aronu.

Uche Okonkwo had instituted a lawsuit at a High Court against the President-General of Amawbia Town Union and Chairman of the Electoral Committee, seeking a restraining order. Ndubuisi Okonkwo filed a similar suit, even as Maduka approached the court, challenging moves to scheme him out of the race.

A body, known as Integrity Group, also filed a suit against alleged plan to disqualify some aspirants. The suit, marked A/411/2023, was filed by Emmanuel Katchi, Emmanuel Edeozor, Joseph Dijeh, N. Okwudili, Oluchukwu Okeke, and Olisa Ananwuna.

Uche Okonkwo said there were other suits yet to be determined by the court, stressing that it would amount to contempt to go ahead with the election.

Member of the Integrity Group and party in the suit, Emmanuel Katchi, said there was no need to disqualify aspirants who met constitutional provisions. He argued that Maduka does not possess the powers of a substantial monarch to effect certain disqualifications.

At the 53rd Yearly General Conference of ATU, held at Ezi-Okpaligwe Hall, Amawbia, yesterday, the General Assembly ratified the clearance of all seven contestants, amid jubilation by majority of attendants at the meeting.

Speaking to newsmen at the end of the meeting, Prince Chinua Okoye, the son of the late Igwe, frowned at the action of the regent and gave a nod for the election to hold.

The President-General told reporters that nothing would stop the election tomorrow.