Okonkwo Samuel
…pleads with the state govt to obey the court judgement and accord Uzoma led Exco all necessary recognitions.
The political crisis in Alor, Idemili south LGA is heightening due to the recent suspension of the Igwe MacAnthony Elibe Okonkwo by the state govt over the visit by some traditional rulers who accompanied Prince Engr Arthur Eze to the presidency to thank President Buhari on his ongoing projects in southeast.
The suspension has seen the two camps in Alor in war of words. While Igwe Elibe leads one camp, the honourable minister for Labour, Dr Chris Nwabueze leads the other.
Presently, Alor People’s Convention which is the umbrella body of Alor town union has been under a caretaker leadership for about 7 years now. The caretaker has been supported and recognised by the state govt despite subsisting court judgements.
Alor has had 7 sets of Caretaker Committee for Alor People’s Convention for 7 years. The High Court of Anambra State, Awka Division, in Suit No. A/14/2015 – Chief Uzoma Igbonwa & Anor (Plaintiffs) -vs- Inspector-General of Police,
Commissioner of Police Anambra State,
Anambra State Government,
Alor Caretaker Committee & Ors. (Defendants) had on Tuesday, February 5th, 2019 delivered a judgment against the Defendants, in which the Court inter alia, disbanded Alor Caretaker Committee and ordered the Election Committee of Alor People’s Convention to go ahead and conclude the electoral process it had started.
Pursuant to the judgement of the High Court, the Electoral Committee headed by Chief James Agubalu kicked-started the election process. The Electoral Committee re-scheduled the election for Alor People’s Convention for February 17th, 2019. The Committee sent out election notices to the relevant persons, groups, kindreds and villages to submit the names and telephone numbers of their elected delegates to the Convention.
According to Alor constitution, the delegates comprised of the 18 traditional kindred Ichies,18 Idi Alo representatives (one out of three Idi Alos per kindred), the Chieftaincy title holders of Alor indigenes, one representative from all Alor Development Union (ADU) Branches, one representative from all age grades in Alor, 3 delegates (two men & one woman) from each kindred unit and Chairman and Secretary of Nze na Ozo Council of Alor. Five out of the six villages in Alor submitted their elected delegates and participated in the election except Umuokwu village which has only two (2) kindred units.
Days before the re-scheduled election, there were rumors in Alor that the beneficiaries and proponents of caretaker government for Alor are bent on scuffling the election.
On the day of the scheduled election, the Nigeria Police on the alleged orders of the Governor of Anambra State through his Chief of Staff, sealed off Umuoshi Village Hall venue of the election in the earlier morning. Following this development, the election committee changed the venue of the meeting/election to Ebenesi-Okebunoye Village Hall and notices of this venue change were sent out to all the delegates. At about 2pm, the Chairman, of the election committee, Chief James Agubalu called the meeting to order having completed the screening of the delegates.
A source told AIF Media that just as the opening prayer was about to be said, noises were heard “coming from outside the venue. Lo and behold, it was the arrival of two (2) buses loaded with thugs carrying matchets, knives, broken bottles, charms and all other kinds of weapons. Their mission without being told were to ensure that the election does not hold by scattering us and possibly, injure us. The thugs were already struggling with four (4) policemen detailed to one of us at the meeting. Thank God for the timely arrival of His Excellency, Senator Chris Nwabueze Ngige, to the venue to participate in the meeting/election; who came with his security details enough to counter the threats from the thugs numbering over 30 able bodied young men. At the juncture, the hoodlums began to run away to different directions. Luckily, Alor youths were on ground to assist the police pursue and arrest about 9 of the thugs, which later made incriminating statements to the police against some Alor indigenes.”
“Within thirty (30) minutes, everything had settled down, and almost 99 percent of the elected delegates whose names were submitted were present. The Chairman of the Election Committee made his opening remarks, said the opening prayer, stated the guidelines for the election, opted for Option A4 and called for nominations. The following officers were returned elected:
Chief (Sir) Uzoma Igbonwa ~ President-General
Sir Daniel Okey Nwankwo ~ Vice-President
Victor Chinedu Nwoyeka ~ Secretary-General
Sir Martin Okoye-Asugo ~ Assistant Secretary
Prof. Ebenezer Mbaekwe ~ Financial Secretary
Chief Afam Nwudo-Odenigbo ~ Treasurer
Barr. Ngozi Udodi ~ Legal Adviser
Mr. Maduka Oyedu ~ Public Relations Officer
Mr. Obumneke Okonkwo ~ Provost 1
Mr. Osita Okide ~ Provost 11
“The elected officers were immediately sworn in by a Notary Public, Emeka Ngige, SAN. On Monday, February 18th, 2019 at about 9am, the Plaintiff’s lawyers filed before the Court a Report on the Election / Notice of Compliance with the Court Judgement.
“The disbanded Caretaker Committee filed notice of appeal on Monday, February 18th, 2019, while the Government of Anambra State filed a Motion for Stay of Execution of the Judgement on the same day at about 1pm.
“The Judgement of Court has been executed, and the Government of Anambra State and the court disbanded Alor Caretaker Committee appealed the Judgement of the High Court separately.
“On March 24th, 2020, the Court of Appeal, Awka Division, dismissed the appeal filed by Anambra State Government for want of diligent prosecution.”
With the dismissal of the appeal, the Uzoma Igbonwa leadership is appealing to the state govt to obey the court judgements and accord them all necessary recognitions as the executive of Alor People’s Convention.
Below is the court document.
Credit: AIF Media
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