…….. Stakeholders allege N1m bribe, kangaroo election in Oto-Awori LCDA; call on President, Ohanaeze leadership to annul poll within 24 hours
Amaka Uchechukwu
LAGOS —Fresh crisis is brewing in the Lagos State Chapter of the apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, over the forthcoming Local Government elections, as the Electoral Committee has been accused of gross misconduct, extortion and imposition of unrecognized persons as Local Government Chairmen.
Investigations revealed that the Committee, which was constituted to conduct free, fair and credible elections across the 20 Local Governments and 37 LCDAs of Lagos State, has allegedly turned the exercise into a bazaar,moving from one local government to another collecting money and installing hand-picked loyalists as Chairmen without due process.
The bubble burst in Oto-Awori LCDA, where stakeholders have raised the alarm over what they described as a shameful and illegal exercise.
According to multiple reports,the Electoral Committee stormed Oto-Awori LCDA without any formal notice to the existing and recognized executive led by Chief Emmanuel Ubah, and conducted what they called a “kangaroo election.”
Chief Ubah, it will be recalled, contested the last State Presidential election but lost to the incumbent, Chief Leo Okafor.
“It was a total charade. They came here like invaders, refused to consult the existing executive, did not involve our members, and after allegedly collecting the sum of One Million Naira (N1,000,000)from some desperate individuals, they declared their own Chairmen,”
“The Ohanaeze constitution is clear on who is eligible to vote and be voted for. What happened in Oto-Awori was not an election; it was an auction. The highest bidder was installed.”a stakeholder lamented
In a twist that has further fueled suspicion, it was gathered that when respected elders and stakeholders of Ohanaeze Ndigbo in Oto-Awori contacted both the Deputy President and the President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Lagos State Chapter to confirm the legitimacy of the exercise, the duo reportedly expressed shock and disclaimed knowledge of any election in Oto-Awori LCDA.
A source close to the Presidency quoted the leadership as saying, “We are not aware of any such election. The matter will be looked into.”
This revelation has raised serious questions about who authorized the Electoral Committee and under whose directive they are operating.
Aggrieved leaders and members of Ohanaeze in Oto-Awori and other affected LCDAs are now calling for the outright cancellation and nullification of the purported election, warning that failure to do so could set the entire Lagos Ohanaeze on fire.
“We are peace-loving people, but we will not fold our arms and watch our revered organization be turned into a money-making machine. This is Ohanaeze Ndigbo, not a private enterprise,” another leader stated angrily.
“We are appealing to the State President to call the Electoral Committee to order, reverse this illegal imposition within 24hrs, and set up a transparent process.
If they fail, we will have no choice but to seek redress in court and petition the National Body of Ohanaeze Ndigbo. Enough is enough.”
They urged Chief Leo Okafor to urgently intervene before the crisis escalates and tarnishes the image of Ndigbo in Lagos, stressing that any election not conducted in line with the Ohanaeze constitution remains null and void.
As of press time, efforts to reach the Chairman of the Electoral Committee for his reaction proved abortive, as his phone lines were not connecting.
Meanwhile, tension remains high in Oto-Awori as members insist that Chief Emmanuel Ubah remains the recognized leader until a credible, constitutionally backed election is conducted.
