…As Ohafia Rumble Sends Wrong Signal
…If we were thieves, a new and more daring set of thieves are now in charge-Ememanka
The November 2nd Local Government Election in Abia State Local Government Area (LGA) Election have come and gone, and as usual in all LGA elections in Nigeria, the party supported by the State Governor took the day while others go about complaining.
To many Abians and Nigerians in general, what took place as an election in the 17 LGAs of the state on Saturday is not strange, new or odd. It WS rather a continuation of what has been happening or probably an advancement/improvement of what was happening in the past.
According to the Abia State Independent Electoral Commission (ABSIEC), the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), the adopted party of Governor Alex Otti humiliated his bona fide party, the Labour Party (LP), as it won 15 out of the available 17 seats.
LP, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) were left with zero victories as the Young Progressives Party (YPP) somehow managed to stage an upset beyond its dominant Osisioma Ngwa LGA by equally capturing Ugwunagbo LGA together with the expected Osisioma.
Meanwhile, there was a serious problem in Ohafia LGA where an elected legislator representing Ohafia South State Constituency in the Abia State House of Assembly, Kalu Mba Nwoke (Etiokwe) was “assaulted, had his phone destroyed, and was taken to an unknown location”
All fingers were pointing to the Deputy Governor, Engr. Ikechukwu Emetu, who according reports was allegedly responsible for the maltreatment given to Nwoke by officers of the Department of State Services (DSS) and policemen.
Reacting to the situation in Ohafia, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Etigwe Uwa, condemned the situation and expressed concerns over the alleged voter intimidation, unlawful arrest and kidnapping of political opponents in Ohafia.
The SAN according to reports available, had reached out to Governor Alex Otti during the time he heard of the incident and the Governor responded, explaining to him that the arrests were due to attempts to disrupt the election process.
However, Uwa questioned this explanation, highlighting reports from residents of Ohafia and other local communities suggesting otherwise.
He alleged that officers from the Department of State Services (DSS) and police, acting on the Deputy Governor’s instructions, have been involved in detaining individuals.
Uwa described the situation as “deplorable,” and condemned the actions and described them as a reflection of the broader issues within Nigeria’s political class.
In a swift reaction to statement of the SAN, Sir Cyril Chukwudi Eke Mba, Chief Press Secretary to the Deputy Governor of Abia State lambasted the respected lawyer and threw a proverbial tantrum to him saying, “He who does not know where a corpse was buried, digs it from the foot end”.
According to the Deputy Governor’s CPS, what Uwa said concerning the arrest of Nwoke was a misrepresentation of facts, stressing that it is quite disheartening that a respected legal luminary of high repute will make a judgment based on hearsay.
“From the first paragraph of the publication, Uwa “raised strong concerns over alleged voter intimidation, unlawful arrests, and the kidnapping of political opponents during the ongoing Local Government Area (LGA) elections in Abia State.”
“Going by what transpired, Hon. Kalu Mba Nwoke intimidated the electorates he is representing by invading the local government Secretariat with over 50 thugs and forcefully trying to hijack electoral materials during its distribution to various wards.
“His arrest was lawful as he was trying to obstruct the electoral process which is a criminal offense. There was no case of kidnapping of political opponents before or during the election. Therefore, your hearsay publication is false and deceitful.
“Mr. Etigwe Uwa, SAN claimed that he reached out to Governor Alex Chioma Otti, OFR, “who responded, explaining that the arrests were due to attempts to disrupt the election process. However, Uwa questioned this explanation, highlighting reports from residents of Ohafia and other local communities suggesting otherwise.
“The Governor gave a clear and direct answer to his query, which he doubted. Why call him in the first place if you were not confident of his response? But you choose to believe the naysayers.
“Let me remind him that the act of trying to hijack electoral materials occurred at the Headquarters of Ohafia LGA, Ebem not at “other local communities” as he claimed.”
Throwing more tantrum on the SAN, Mba said, “Mr. Etigwe Uwa, SAN said that “officers from the Department of State Services (DSS) and police, acting on the Deputy Governor’s instructions, have been involved in detaining individuals.
“We are aware of his common related attitude of persons with PULL HIM DOWN SYNDROME. This is not unconnected to his vituperations against the office of the Deputy Governor and his person. Please, can he kindly furnish us with records of the Deputy Governor’s involvement in detaining people as he claimed?
“I commend his choice of the word “deplorable” in his description of what happened. Unfortunately, it was “deplorable” indeed to see a House of Assembly Member trying to forcefully hijack electoral materials meant for the election with his thugs.
“His submission, “I call on the Governor to reign in these acts of executive lawlessness and electoral heist”, should rather read “I call on the Governor to reign in these acts of legislative lawlessness and electoral heist.”
Mba said that Uwa’s article is a crystal clear case of contradiction of self and informed by ignominious elements, stressing that his principal, the Deputy Governor is very intelligent and thinks before he acts.
“He is a crusader of due process, abhors selfishness and intimidation, and does not tolerate anyone who aims to display such character as seen in the case of Hon. Kalu Mba Nwoke.
“Therefore, those of you supporting the nefarious activities of Hon. Kalu Mba Nwoke should be ashamed of yourselves and seek forgiveness.”
REACTIONS ON THE CONDUCT OF THE ELECTION
South East Reporters while getting reactions from some Abians both online and stumbled on some notable ones which include the reaction from Sir
Onyebuchi Ememanka, Chief Press Secretary to former Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu.
According to Ememanka, “Today’s ‘election’ has made one thing very clear, Alex Otti is just the common ordinary Nigerian politician and there is absolutely no difference between him and the others. None at all.
“All these talks about first class economist, banker and corporate guru are nothing but high grade nonsense! Absolute rubbish!
“Again, it has also shown that his followers are not different from the followers of other politicians whose only interest is their stomach and their pocket.
“The so called election of today is no different from what has happened in the past. Today’s own is even more ridiculous and brazen.
“All the noise over the years were just about not being part of the mainstream and nothing more pretentious.
“So henceforth, let no one deceive himself any longer. If we were thieves, a new and more daring set of thieves are now in charge. The merry go round continues! Simple and short.”
A media consultant, Uche Agoru said, “The most fraudulent election in the history of Nigeria just took place in Abia state where Electoral Officers will come to conduct elections without result sheets and will brazenly inform voters that that they weren’t given same.
“We are already aware that this is what it’s going to turn out because we know the character of the man in charge. Typical of one bank MD that I know who promised reforms and transparency and ended up deepening fraud and corruption.
“How a party that is less than a month in the state and campaigned for only one week will end up winning majority of the chairmanship seats in a local election will make an interesting project topic. No wonder they failed to spell Councilorship correctly. But if you no like the spelling, “GO TO COURT”
According to Mr Ikechukwu Iroha, “This local government election Otti is in charge, he couldn’t even provide result sheet in any of the local governments. In Ohafia, they manhandled Abia House of Assembly member for insisting a result sheet must be provided.
“Obviously, he is not in support of the shenanigan. He insisted that they must show good example based on their campaign promises. He was given multiple slaps and pushed inside a vehicle.”
A former Commissioner for Information, John Okiyi-Kalu said, “In Abia State more people voted in LGA election than the 2023 Governorship Election that brought Otti to power. Prof George Chima, you are a great magician.”
