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From Emmanuel Uzor, Awka
Tension is brewing in Nimo community in Njikoka Local Government Area of Anambra State few days after town union executive election as the community accused the state government of meddling in its affairs.
Leaders of the community described the crisis arising from the outcome of Nimo Town Union elections held on January 4, 2024, as an administrative rascality by the state government.
Addressing journalists, leaders of the community led by Ogbuefi Akuluouno Ayiba, Chairman of the Elders ‘ Council, expressed displeasure with the way the Nimo Town Union elections were observed in what he called breach by the Commissioner for Chieftaincy and Community Matters, Hon Tony Collins Nwabunwanne.
“What happened on January 4 were not elections but a flagrant abuse and rape of the Nimo Constitution. You must agree with us that any society not governed by laws will be like an animal society.
“The Nimo Town Union elections were originally scheduled to hold on December 27, 2023, a date usually set aside for such by the town’s constitution. But that day the town’s constitution was turned on its head in a manner that suggested hidden agenda by the commissioner.”
Akuluouno further alleged that there was a court order originated by a party, dissatisfied with its disqualification which was served on the electoral committee which should have been obeyed but he said the commissioner disobeyed the order and went ahead with the election.
“The chairman of the electoral committee and the secretary explained to the commissioner that they would not go ahead with the elections because of this court service, but the commissioner went ahead with the exercise without the electoral body. Another strange development.”
Also speaking, the secretary of the group, Akuchukwu Muo disclosed that the commissioner had no right to conduct an election as he is only supposed to be an observer in the exercise.
“We, therefore, as peace loving and concerned elders of the town, call on Mr Governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, to not only call his commissioner to order, but to put the machinery in motion for the rescheduling of the elections as and when due. We insist that the process must be right so that justice will be served. It is total bastardisation for your commissioner who knows the law to come to Nimo, a great community that has produced Supreme Court Judge (Justice A.I. Iguh rtd), Chief Justices of Anambra State (Justice A.I. Iguh, rtd, Justice F.G.C. Uyanna, rtd and Justice G.U. Ononiba, rtd), Appeal Court Judge (Justice Chinwe Iyizoba, rtd), a host of other judges, SANs, over 10 magistrates, over 100 lawyers, over 30 professors, over 55 medical doctors of high repute, Federal and State permanent secretaries and directors, and a host of other dignitaries, and Mr. Commissioner out of his inordinacy, made himself a demigod simply because he is married to a Nimo daughter and threw Nimo into anarchy and lawlessness; what an administrative and conjugal rascality!”
Efforts to get the reaction of the Commissioner for Chieftaincy and Community Matters, Tony Collins Nwabunwanne, proved abortive as his mobile phone was switched off at the time this report was filed.
