EZEISI DIKEIGBO
The Ogbunike Progress Union (OPU) President General, Ogbuefi Tochukwu Obiakor, abruptly postponed the Igweship election hours before polling was due to begin. The igweship election was scheduled for Easter Monday, 21st April, 2025. The President General cited logistics challenges and security threats for the decision.
While perusing the drama, intrigues and conspiracies that trailed the Igweship contest, it is pertinent to examine the shock announcement and its implications on the journey to the throne, the process that will eventually produce the new Igwe Ogbunike.
First, just few days earlier, precisely, April 19, the President General of Ogbunike Progress Union had insisted that the Town Union government was ready to conduct free and fair elections, according to section 6(1) of Igwe Ogbunike constitution 1978.
The Igweship Candidates held a meeting with the leadership of OPU where they were mandated to make financial contributions to assist the Town Union in organizing the Igweship election. There were four Igweship candidates who contributed some monies to OPU purse, as listed; Ogbuefi Elochukwu Gwacham (N5M), Ogbuefi Dr. Chuma-Odili Harris Udokamma (N3M), Ogbuefi Sir Timothy Onwuka (N3M), Ogbuefi Emeka Onwuagbu (N1.5M).
So the fact that OPU changed its mind so abruptly has raised questions about the real reason for the postpoment.
Second, even the Igweship Candidates were not privy to the shock announcement before hand. It was later gathered that the real reasons of postponing the Igweship election was orchestrated by a Candidate who had been dictating the pace for the OPU President General.
It was alledged that while the Igweship Candidate was busy sponsoring new Ogbuefi title-taking ceremonies, sharing monies, bags of rice and expensive alcoholic drinks, he never believed that the Igweship election will not be conducted according to section 6(1) of Igwe Ogbunike constitution which states that OPU Central Executive and Ndichie will be responsible for selecting the new Igwe.
However, as the election date approached, there was a suspicion of violence against the application of section 6(1) in the Igweship election. The news got to the authorities, and OPU was advised that Igweship election should be conducted according to section 6(2) of Igwe Ogbunike constitution 1978.
The Igweship Candidate who prevailed on the OPU President to postpone the election, had feared defeat, about the constitutional provisions in section 6(2), which stipulated that the whole community will be involved in electing the new Igwe Ogbunike, an exercise he was ill-prepared. Consequently, the Igweship election was postponed less than twelve hours before it was due to commence.
One of the strongest rumours doing the rounds in the hours following the announcement was that the OPU had given directives to security men, to ensure non members of Ndichie Ogbunike were allowed to come close to the town hall, venue of the Igweship election. But, the youths of Ogbunike were determined to participate in the election.
Not surprisingly, the announcement fuelled suspicions in a tight contest. The frontline Igweship Candidate Ogbuefi Dr Chuma-Odili Harris Udokamma a.k.a Ogene Ogbunike hosted a World Press Conference where he registered displeasure in the way and manner OPU President General handled the Igweship election matters. He, however, called on his teaming supporters to remain calm, and go about their lawful duties.
Another prominent Igweship Candidate Ogbuefi Sir Timothy Onwuka a.k.a Osuofia Ogbunike kicked off protests at the town hall against the decision labelling it a “deliberate pre-determined agenda” by the Ogbuefi Tochukwu Obiakor led OPU to thwart the will of the people. While addressing the youths at the town hall, Osuofia expressed disappointment. He added that his group of supporters remained committed to conducting free and fair elections, no matter the antics of Ogbuefi Obiakor.
The question on everyone’s lips has been, to what extent is the postponement justified?
The OPU President General has cited a number of logistical challenges to conduct the election according to section 6(2). Apart from issues related to electoral materials, he also cited poor security arrangement. Ogbuefi Tochukwu Obiakor would later told the Hon commissioner for local government, chieftaincy and community affairs that he fled the town because there were hooded gunmen who stormed his house.
The OPU President General said the level of insecurity in the town and other sundry issues could have affected the results of the Igweship election. The OPU was therefore justified in postponing the election. The question is why they delayed the postponement until the last minute. Why did OPU PG postpone the Igweship election without proper consultations? Why did he not carry the critical stakeholders, and all Igweship candidates along in the decision making process?
There have been allegations of the OPU President General working with some faceless power mongers to frustrate any attempts at electing a new Igwe Ogbunike. It was also reported that some members of Ogbunike community living abroad have been fingered in the saga. And, monies were alledgedly contributed to forestall any moves at electing a new Igwe, until their petitions against the leadership of the traditional council of Ndichie were addressed.
Any postponement was bound to lead to more speculation. Although the OPU maintained that the postponement was done in good faith, top Igweship candidates could see the move as an effort to disenfranchise their supporters, if plans to bring back section 6(1) worked.
Regardless of how the elections are conducted on the expected new date when announced, a serious challenge facing the OPU now is how to organize the Igweship election according to section 6(2) of Igwe Ogbunike constitution 1978. From grape vine, effort is being made to legalize the Igwe Ogbunike Draft Constitution 2023, and consequently used in the selection or election of the new Igwe.
For now, all eyes will be on the OPU and some stakeholders who are not comfortable with any efforts being made by the traditional council of Ndichie for Ogbunike to have a new Igwe. Until the new election date is released, tongues will continue to wang. We hear, there’s a pending motion in courts, truth of the matter will be known as day breaks.
Finally, the postponement of the Igweship election will definitely continue to generate further criticisms which the OPU must manage in an unbiased way.