Ugbene Great Ambassadors Ugbene Community Awka North local government area yesterday petitioned the Anambra state Governor, Chief Willie Obiano over the community’s town union election calling for outright cancellation of the election as it was a brood day robbery of the people’s mandate.
In a petition to the Governor and security agencies entitled ‘’Ugbene Town Union Election: A Rape on Justice’’ signed on behalf of the organization by a lawyer, and Secretary General of the Organization, Joseph Obiakor Tagbo said only cancellation of the election will herald peace to the community.
They alleged that strangers besieged the community as hired voters on the alleged orders of ONE Chief Fidelis Nweke on behalf of Chief Albert Ibe and that they were allowed to vote amidst protests by Emeka Ezu, a lawyer and his supporters.
They pointed out that the traditional Prime minister of Ugbene , Onowu Joseph Offor protested against the infiltration of hired voters even before the election and later called for the cancellation of the said election in the interest of peace but nobody listened .
‘’Your Excellency Sir , the result of this manipulation is a rape on justice and pervasion of the will of the Ugbene indigenes by a combined effort of the mighty, motivated by deep rooted corruption to ensure that Chief Albert Ibe a known member of the Peoples Democratic Party emerge as the winner of the election against the expressed will of All Progressives Grand Alliance and supported by the leadership and the membership of APGA in Ugnene,
They further alleged that because of the support of security men to a group loyal to Chief Albert Ibe which caused a deliberate loophole,’’ the supporters of Chief Albert Ibe was doing multiple voting , that is they would vote be counted and turn around to queue up again to be counted. The supporters of Emeka Ezu, a lawyer protested frantically and were intimidated and harassed , were beaten into line by thugs , military officers and police that were provided by Chief Fidelis Nweke and Chief Albert Ibe as against the earlier agreement that all the security shall be provided by the state and local government.
The petitioners were worried that some security officials connived in robbing the community of a free and fair election to the detriment of peace and unity of the community.
‘’Your Excellency , it is instructive to mention here that this group of people led by Chief Fidelis Nweke have been a thorn in the flesh of Ugbene town and have grounded the entire structure of the community to their own gain.
‘’They have sworn that the community would remain in anarchy unless whoever Chief Fidelis Nweke , a PDP Chieftain anoints becomes the President General even when as always this is against the wishes of the majority of Ugbene people. So they have boasted.
‘’Sir we have tried to bring to your notice this daylight robbery of the mandate of the people . We therefore urge you sir , to use your good offices to investigate this matter and cancel this election with a view to ensuring that there is an enduring peace in Ugbene Town’’.
They lamented that against agreed rules with the Permanent Secretary , Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy matters , that option A4 would be adopted with the youngest age grade for the election being Ngologwu Ugbene and state government providing security, almost everything went to the contrary.
They alleged that Anambra state did not provide security as agreed as the security men who were present at the election venue constitute of a truck load of Army officers , two truck loads of police officers armed to the teeth in a community election without crisis adding further that the security presence was used to rig the election.
‘’This security men were also brought into Ugbene on the night of May 23, 2014 and slept in the home of Chief Fedelis Nweke *(Biafra) the major sponsor of Chief Albert Ibe . If this is not bias , what is it?
‘’Chief Fidelis Nweke also moved into the community that same night with some thugs and hirelings fearfully looking and wielding some dangerous weapons , ready to maim and they all slept in the same Chief Fidelis Nweke house with the so called security personnel where the whole plans were hatched.
But the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on local Government and Chieftaincy Matters , Hon Tony Collins Nwabunwanne dismissed the allegations adding that the election was free and fair and that they abided by the rules as agreed on with the contenders and community. He said the election stands against all the protests and that it remained the best election he ever witnessed.
