Members of Ojoto Community in Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra State on the 16th of April, called on the state government to enforce the outcome of the town union elections conducted by Anambra state government.
The group led by Comrade Prince Emeka Nwabunike gathered in front of the Anambra State Government House, Awka holding placards with different inscriptions like “Igwe let there be peace in Ojoto, Igwe anyị chọrọ udo na oganiru n’Ojoto, let the traditional institution stay in traditional matters, say no to election manipulations in Ojoto, e.t.c written on them.
According to Comrade Nwabunike, the first election which would have taken place on the 1st of April, 2024 was cancelled after accreditation due to some challenges or unresolved issues from the stakeholders which led the state government to invite the stakeholders of Ojoto to the government house for an interface on the 3rd of April, 2024. According to him, the commissioner gave order that the election should continue after the meeting of which candidates emerged in all the levels when the election took place on the 6th of April, 2024, but it didn’t augur well with the king of Ojoto; Igwe Gerald Mbamalu who sent some youths to start a protest against the state government’s decision. He called on the state governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo and the commissioner of local government and chieftaincy affairs, Mr. Tony-Collins Nwabunwanne to come and uphold the elections and also to swear in those that emerged in the elections .
He also called on the state Government to order Igwe Gerald Mbamalu whom mandate was given to by the state government to face his traditional institution and not to meddle in the administrative affairs which according to him was made clear by the commissioner of local government and chieftaincy affairs.
The groups were later addressed by the chief security officer to the state government.
The executives led by Comrade Prince Emeka Nwabunike later submitted letters to the Governor and the commissioner of local government and chieftaincy affairs saying ‘no’ to Igwe Gerald Mbamalu’s antics and which also states that they stand with the State Government.