From David Onwuchekwa, Nnewi
A group known as concerned members of Akaboedoji Community Meeting in Akaboedoji Uruagu, Nnewi, Anambra State has sent a petition to the President-General of Nzuko Ora Nnewi (Nnewi Town Union), Dr Maduka Atuenyi, over leadership crisis in the area.
In the petition titled “Petition Against Obi Afam Charles, Obi Uruagu And Ernest Agbodike, Obi Akaboedoji On The Crisis In Akaboedoji Community signed by Prince Dozie Agbodike, Mr Charles Onyetube and Mr Augustine Udebuani, copied to the traditional ruler of Nnewi, Igwe Kenneth Orizu III, Senator Patrick Ifeanyi Uba, Chairman, Uruagu Nnewi Peace Committee, Ogbuefi Benard Okeke and Uruagu Nnewi Development Union, the petitioners kicked against an election conducted in the community on April 15, 2023.
The concerned members, in the petition made available to the press, said the election was not properly conducted to the best of their knowledge.
The petitioners said prior to the election, that the concerned members unanimously agreed to an Option A4 type of voting but were allegedly cajoled to accept secret ballot kind of voting to their greatest surprise.
They said they accepted the secret balloting despite the fact that the overwhelming majority and Akaboedoji Constitution said otherwise.
“They promised us that the secret ballot will be free, fair and transparent. Out of the three kindreds in Akaboedoji village, they told us to present two people each that will serve in the electoral body.
“On the election day, we noticed that after the accreditation of voters, Chief Ernest Agbodike, some Obi Uruagu relations and security men were freely walking around in the restricted area where voters were casting their votes, ” the petition reads in part.
The concerned members alleged that voters were being directed on who to cast their votes for. They said despite raising an alarm, that the practice continued unabated, adding that they were rather intimidated by the security around.
“Please note Uruagu people told us that they will be mere observers in the election, but they became fully involved in the electoral process.
“To that effect, we the concerned citizens of Akaboedoji reject the election results totally, ” the petition further read.
The concerned members said by that development that they dissociated themselves from the April 15, 2023 election.
In order to press home their demands of peaceful resolution, the concerned members, stormed a meeting venue of Nsuko Ora at Nnewi Youth League Hall for a peaceful protest with placards having various inscriptions that presented their complaints.
They dissociated themselves from the activities and alleged other factions’ business.
“All legal or illegal fees they do collect without account rendering, they should enforce it on their own members. They should not come to our fraction because it will be resisted,” they concluded.