By Jude Atupulazi
The newly elected President of Abagana Youth body, Comrade Emeka Okajiegbe, has promised the youths of the community of running an all-inclusive government that will harness the potentials of every youth for the overall development of the community.
Okajiegbe who could not hide his joy after emerging victorious in a keenly contested election, also thanked the Governor of Anambra State, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, for believing in the youth structure of ASATU, promising that Abagana youths would not be found wanting or lagging behind again in the affairs of youths at the state level.
Independent observers gave accolades to the Electoral Committee, the youths of Abagana, the delegates and all stakeholders for conducting themselves in an orderly manner throughout the process.
The elections tagged, ”AWU ELECTION YOUTH WING, 2024”, was under the supervision of the Anambra State Association of Town Unions, ASATU. It was conducted at the Abagana Welfare Union Secretariat and saw the emergence of a brand new youth oriented leadership in the community after eight years of what has been described as discontent.
Despite all tensions, pressures and expectations, the Electoral Committee, led by Mr. Ikennna Anisi worked round the clock to give Abagana Community an acceptable youth leadership.
The entire process from arrivals, screening, accreditation, voting, sorting, counting and declaration of winners met the desired global standards for a fair, free, peaceful, credible, transparent and all inclusive process of an election, Fides gathered.
It will be recalled that Abagana Community for the past eight years has been without a democratically elected youth body to foresee the affairs of the younger elements in the community, thus leaving a huge vacuum.
A stakeholder who did not wish to disclose his name, said the June 8th Election would go down in History as one which ushered in a new brand of democratic dispensation in the community.
The ASATU youth wing president, His Youthfulness, Comrade Ken Okoli, commended what he described as the excellent job done by the Abagana Electorial Committee under the chairmanship of Hon. Ikennna Anisi and his team, stating his satisfaction with the process and urged other community and senior parent bodies to emulate such, for a free and rancour free process.
Earlier, the Abagana Welfare Union President General, Engr. Ben Okongwu, noted that the parent body was on ground to ensure that the process was successful in accordance with the directives of the Anambra State Government, so that Abagana would not be missing or found wanting at the state level Young wing and wished all candidates a peaceful outing.
He noted that the Abagana Community saw the development of the youth as paramount.
After a fierce contest, His Youthfulness, Comrade Emeka Okajiegbe, popularly known as Ijele, emerged the winner with 70 votes, beating his closest rival, Mr. Uchenna Umeadi, who got 26 votes.
The full list of other newly elected officials include: First Vice, Mr. Okeke Uche; Second Vice, Mr. Okafor Onyeka; Secretary, Mr. Emeh Amandi; Assistant Secretary, Moses Chiemelie; Financial Secretary, Emmanuel Oguejiofor; and Treasurer, MacAnthony Ofole.
Others are: PRO 1, John Ikechukwu; PRO 2, Augustine Okechukwu; Provost 1, Onyeka Nwokolo; Provost 2, Daniel Nwazojie; Welfare Secretary 1, Ngananga Chidubem; and Welfare Secretary 2, Okonkwo Elias.
They were all declared winners in accordance with the stipulated guidelines by the Electoral Committee Chairman Hon. Ikennna Anisi and were officially sworn into office thereafter.
Fides reports that the Electoral Committee, in collaboration with the Abagana Welfare Union (parent body) put in place a conducive and secure environment to ensure a free and rancour free and transparent process, as security operatives were visibly on ground to forestall any breach of Peace.
