All is not well in Njikoka Local Government Area as stakeholders in the area have expressed displeasure over moves to scuttle due process in the choice of who becomes the next transition chairman of the local government, reports Mike Nebife.
The stakeholders, Fides learnt, have petitioned the Governor of the state, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, demanding that the proper process be adhered to, while alleging irregularities.
One of the angry stakeholders who pleaded anonymity, said he wanted to bring to the governor’s attention what happened in Njikoka on Sunday, 19th May, 2024, during the nomination for selection of representatives for the transition chairman position, which, he said, had been zoned to Nimo, a town in the local government. He said the zoning to Nimo had been agreed upon by both Umuowelle and Umunri Ancestral Clans in the local government.
His protest made available to Fides read, ‘The process was marred by many irregularities where party faithful from Njikoka Constituency I (Umunri) were prevented from participating in the nomination process.
Based on this, he pointed out, a motion was raised, seeking to allow party faithful from Njikoka Constituency I (Umunri) to participate in the process in the presence of the stakeholders present but the appeal was given a deaf ear without any reason.
It was learnt that a similar scenario played out during the APGA Party Congress Election of LGA party chairmanship position and party executives conducted recently, where the current party Chairman of APGA in Njikoka raised a similar motion not to restrain party faithful from Njikoka Constituency I (Umunri) from participating in the election of LGA executives which was zoned to (Umuowelle) and his motion was sustained and adhered to by the stakeholders present on that day.
Fides was told that this could be verified from the governor’s Chief Protocol Officer/Deputy Chief of Staff (Hon Chinedu Nwoye Glamour); Hon Chinedu Okoye (Ubi na eme Nri); AVM Ben Chiobi; Hon Dr. Jude Akpua; the Deputy Majority Leader, Anambra State Assembly, etc., who were present on that day and were present in that day’s nomination too where same incident played out and the candidate’s motion was over-ruled without any reason.
It was gathered that one of the stakeholders wondered why Abagana People were biased over his candidature and vowed not to support him simply because he had supported his town’s man who vied for party chairmanship position during the party congress against their own Abagana man.
The petition further read, ‘Mr Governor Sir, Hon Dr. Pete Ibida is still alive and can attest to this scenario because he knows exactly what played out during that time and being the leader of the party in Umuowelle and my town Nimo, he conducted an in-house election for all those contesting for LGA party chairmanship position from Nimo after which one candidate emerged who will run for Nimo Town at the LGA level.
‘It was yesterday that some of those going to vote for nomination, told me to my face that they will vote against me because I joined Hon Dr. Pete Ibida to contest against their town, Abagana, during party congress and as well made the governor not to give their town, Abagana, ticket for the State Assembly General Elections of 2023 which was rather given to Abba Town in which Hon Dr. Jude Akpua is the current House of Assembly member.
‘Mr Governor, since I joined APGA from 2002 till date, the two constituencies have been doing things together and I wonder this sudden change over what played out yesterday (May 19).
‘Sir, I am appealing that you use your good offices as our leader to investigate on this matter of urgency and do justice to it.
He also frowned at the situation where people were allowed to vote twice and described such as an anomaly.
‘In fact, one of the nominated candidates who’s from Ward 2 and still on suspension for anti-party activities was allowed to participate in the process. APGA members were aware what he exhibited during the last General Elections of 2023 that led to his suspension (Senate & State Assembly) letter which was addressed to the former party chairman, Elder Charles Okongwu, and copied to the state chairman and local government stakeholders of the party.
He said while the man’s suspension had not been lifted, he had joined in contesting for nomination and nothing was said on that.
Continuing, he said, ‘The last 2023 General Elections conducted in the (4) RAs/Wards in Nimo Town was where the suspended candidate, led some youths to move from one election voting booth to the other, inciting the voters not to vote for our party, APGA, and the candidature of Hon Dr. Pete Ibida because he assumed that you, Mr Governor, denied making him TC Chairman was orchestrated by Hon Dr. Pete Ibida.
‘Due to this, many of our indigenes worked against and cast sympathy vote for Labour Party candidate who’s also from Nimo and this led to our poor performance in the just concluded General Elections of 2023.
‘Thirdly, the worrisome moves made by so fellow contestants for the TC nomination interview representatives where two candidates that emerged at the end of the nominations disbursed huge amounts of money (bribe) to each of those going to cast their votes so that they would vote in their favour.
‘This made me wonder if those sharing this kind of money to secure TC nomination interview tickets will actually follow your footsteps/vision of serving the People without looking for what you will gain rather than what they can offer to our Njikoka.’
He said his heart was greatly pained because of what he was getting as reward, despite his years of sacrifice to the party and regretted that the ”Be your brother’s keeper” mantra of the party was being traded for money.
