SAM OBINNA IBE, who was at the Osisioma council area of Abia state, captures the protest by PDP youth in the local government over ‘anomalies’ in the LG poll
The PDP youths in Osisioma Ngwa Local Government Area of Abia State Thursday, November3, true to its earlier warning disrupted the rescheduled councillorship/delegates election of the 18 wards of the council area fixed by the party that there will be no fresh election avert blood shed warned the party to release already conducted.
When Hon. Chidi Nwosu, the immediate past legislator that represented Umuahia South in the Abia House of Assembly, and factional leader of Abia PDP first exposed the malpractices in the process to the poll, saying there were imposition of candidates by his party, many on the other side of divide called him names and dismissed such allegation with a wave of the hand.
He, along with his group had during a media briefing some months back faulted the process that threw up Sir Johnson Onuigbo- led Exco insisting that the process was fraught with irregularity and therefore lacked transparency, they were written off and described as frustrated party man.
Ever since, the Abia state PDP has moved from one protest to another with many of its members expressing grievances over a number of unresolved issues. About weeks ago, shortly after the conduct of PDP Councillorship/Delegates primaries, complaint galore dominated the politica space, agitations and protest here and there with that of Osisioma Ngwa most pronounced. The people had besieged the PDP party’s secretariat with thousands of protesters, bearing placards warning members to boycott further election in Osisioma if the party fails to reverse itself by upholding the results of the earlier primaries said to be free, fair and transparent.
However, responding to their complaint, the party chairman, Onuigbo said that Osisioma election was not free, fair and transparent hence, the cancellation and promised to conduct another one later. But alas, the people made true their vow to boycott any fresh election.
Thus, on Wednesday 2nd November, 2016, the party had fixed the fresh primaries in Osisioma just as other council areas. But the people of Osisioma said, emphatic “No, there will be no election” and called on the party to release the already conducted one if peace must reign. The youth warned that they will resist any attempt to scuttle the people- given mandates. The youth numbering about one thousand then demonstrated at the council premises while calling on the party leadership in the state to reverse itself and release the election conducted on 21st October, 2016 adjudged to be free, fair and transparent.
It could be recalled that last week, Osisioma Ngwa youths, councillorship aspirants, chairmanship aspirants and stakeholders of the L.G.A had stormed PDP party secretariat at Umuahia, calling on the Onuigbo- led state Exco to do the needful by reversing itself, the unitarily cancellation which they said did not following due process in accordance with the party’s guidance.
They however vowed to boycott any fresh election organized by the party and warned that the party must avert bloodbath by allowing the wishes of the people to prevail.
In order to drive home their grievances the youth demonstrated at the council, while insisting that there will be no re-run in Osisioma Ngwa.
Some of the inscriptions on their placards read: No re-run in Osisioma Ngwa, no imposition of candidates, T.A. Orji should leave Osisioma LGA alone. We say no to imposition, please release the result of the last congress.
Speaking to journalists at the council premises, the councillorship aspirants, Nwankpa Blessing, ward 18, Egbu Gospel Mbakwe, ward 10, Ajuzie Ahaoma, Umunne Ise ward 9, etc called on the party leadership in the State to respect the wishes of the people as was demonstrated in the primaries election results conducted earlier, adjudged to be free, fair and transparent.
They noted that there is a force controlling PDP in Abia out to scuttle the wishes of Osisioma people.
Reacting to the development, Egbu Gospel said that he won the councillorship election of his ward and that he was aware that the party had already compiled the list to be announced later should it be held that day.
On his part, Ajuzie Ahaoma of ward 9 said that the governor directed that the party should deliver the most popular candidate and that he won his opponent with 700 votes and the loser congratulated him but wondered why anybody should contemplate changing his result.
“Let them release our results, the party has something up their sleeves, no re-run in Osisioma Ngwa, no imposition of candidates” warned Ahaoma.
Addressing the aggrieved youths in the council area, Chief Allen Nwachukwu, the immediate past Deputy State Chairman of PDP said that what is happening at Osisioma Ngwa is most unfortunate. He noted that last election conducted was peaceful devoid of any crisis but however wondered why the party at the State level will single out Osisioma and cancel all the 18 wards without cogent reasons.
Chief Nwachukwu who is an ex-officio member of the party blamed the immediate past governor, Chief T.A. Orji adding that the interest he has in the L.G.A is what is fueling this crisis.
The two-time local government chairman maintained that it was Osisioma Ngwa votes that took Orji to the Senate when his brothers from Ikwuano Umuahia rejected him.
The veteran politician joined forces with his Osisioma brothers to tell Senator T.A. Orji to “ please leave Osisioma alone.”
Chief Nwachukwu appealed to the leadership of the party to release the result of the already conducted primaries, stating that those who won election are suffering, having spent money to run for the election, he also cautions that they should not deprive them of their victory.
“Osisioma can boast of more than 20 medical doctors, more than 20 Engineers and Lawyers, yet no appointment came for the LGA that holds PDP in Abia State” Nwachukwu lamented.
Nwachukwu better known as “Obioha” by party faithful and admirers maintained that “this appointment that was not given to us is a womb to Osisioma stronghold of PDP in Abia.”
In a chat with Hon. Ugochukwu , the Transition Committee Chairman of Osisioma Ngwa LGA, he noted that as the Chief Security Officer of the LGA, he had to intervene to restore normalcy to avert blood shed by the protesting youths.
The TC chairman explained the security of lives and property is paramount to him and that given what he saw on ground that the atmosphere is not conducive for any fresh election.
When asked if he had lodged the complaint to the party, he said he called the party chairman but he did not pick his calls but he got his deputy, Hon. P.C Onyegbu and informed him about the situation on ground.
Attempts by our correspondent to speak with the party chairman were abortive as he did not pick his calls at the time of going to press.
But a source told our correspondent that the chairman was quoted as saying that the election held and that the names of winners would soon be announced.
Ironically some of the electoral officers sigted at Osisioma confirmed to newsmen that there was tension and they were told to go home because the election would no longer hold in contrast to the chairman’s position.
When contacted, Eddie Onuzuruike, aide to Senator T.A Orji, to react to the allegation against his principal for fueling the crisis in the LGA, as usual, he said that his principal is too busy with his legislative work in the senate, therefore has no time to intervene in Osisioma council primary’s crisis.
