Anambra: Ibollo Electoral Chairman Withdraws Earlier Claim On Date, Admits Majority Decision

By Julie Sylvia, Onitsha

The Electoral committee chairman during the conduct of election for new executives to Pilot the affairs of Ibollo Obosi Landlords Association, Idemili North Local Government area, Anambra State, Chief Emmanuel Okpo, has withdraws his earlier claim that the election was flawed due to change in date from 17th to 9th, today said that the election was credible, conducted on generally agreed 9th day of May.

According to him, “The 9th election was without hitch, conducted on the 9th of May as generally agreed by all parties, residents, electoral committee members, electorate and stake holders. My earlier position that the election was flawed because of change of date from 17th May to 9th May 2025 does not stand and will not stand as it was personal not majority position.

“We started from February to talk of the election and agreed to conduct it first or second week of May and everybody agreed. Abinitio we said 17 but the incumbent executive said their tenure was still running up towards that 17th and we all agreed for 9th May. A town crier was used to ensure all heard of the election.

“Chief Augustine Okafor, one of the chairmanship candidates was disqualified because he has not lived in the community up to three years but he pleaded that even if he failed that he will embrace the winner and with the advice of Igwe Chidubem Iweka of Obosi, that everyone should be allowed to contest, we allowed him.

“On that day of the election everyone was around and at a time Augustine and cohorts disappeared into the thin air for reasons best known to him and we conducted the election with other candidates some of who were in his lineup,” he disclosed.

Contributing, the electoral committee secretary, Okoye Patrick Emeka, said, “We started election issue on February and printed forms and contestants bought the forms. Augustine Okafor came into Ibollo newly but pleaded to be allowed, he has not lived up to three years as stated in Ibollo constitution.

“He pleaded to be allowed and that he will congratulate the chairman that wins and we allowed him. We all agreed for 9th May and he was around at the election arena. Everyone was around too. So for him to say that election was 17th is wrong.

“Town crier was used to ensure everyone was aware of the election. Majority agreed that election has been shifted to 9th for obvious reasons and the electoral committee chairman sent messages to everyone saying that election was 9th May as generally agreed,” he disclosed.

In his own contribution, Richard Ofoekwe, who represented Obosi Urban on the election day while recalling that election issue started on February this year, disclosed that everybody agreed that it will be conducted on 9th May not 17th May.

“We said First or second week, and it was on 9th, messages were sent across through town crier and most of the candidates voted for their rivals on seeing that they will not make it because it was Option A4 system of voting.

“Augustine Okafor was disqualified by the Electoral committee because he has not lived in Ibollo for three years as demanded but we allowed him to contest. I was the one that interviewed him and he said he had lived for a year and six months.

“I can’t say the reason why Augustine and cohorts said election was on 17th when we all agreed for 9th and it was conducted on the 9th May as agreed. What ever the electoral committee chairman may have said earlier on the date was his own personal position because majority said 9th, he has to abide by majority decision which he has now agreed that we said 9th May not 17th,” he stated.

According to him the re election of Ikenna Ezenwosu, as chairman to pilot the affairs of the association for the next four years stands including others that won the election, not minding purported claims by two of the chairmanship candidates that the election was a kangaroo election.

The duo chairmanship candidates, Chiefs Augustine Okafor and Sylvester Nnaji, told newsmen that they and other candidates contesting for various positions shunned the election arena following sudden change on date of election from 17 to 9 May 2025, with the exception of those candidates in the lineup of Chief Ezenwosu.