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BY SUZY CHUKWUECHEDOM / ONITSHA
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A subsisting court order has prevented the police from disrupting the town union election of Okpoko Community Development Union, (OCDU).
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To this end, a 16-man new executive was elected at the weekend.
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The Atani High Court in Anambra State presided over by Justice Chukwudi Okaa has authorized the relevant stakeholders of Okpoko community in Ogbaru Local Government Area of the state to conduct an election to usher in a new executive.
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It was gathered that a team of policemen from Okpoko Divisional Headquarters had earlier stormed Onitsha Holiday Resort Hotel, Okpoko, the venue of the election on Friday 13th, December to stop the schedule election based on an information from the opposing camp but on arrival, they were shown the subsisting court order made by Justice Okaa on November 14 this year and they left and allowed the exercise to hold peacefully as directed by the court.
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Justice Okaa had following an application brought before the court by Chief Felix Onunkwo and Chief Isaac Onyenoneke for themselves and on behalf of the 42. Community Ward Chairmen of OCDU, against Chief Francis Enemuo and Hon. Chukwudi Ehiobu for themselves and on behalf of members of the Central Executive Committee, CECof OCDU, declared that the tenure of office of first defendant, Enemuo and all the members of CEC of OCDU, their servants, agents, and their privies are hereby restrained forthwith from further parading themselves or performing any duty assigned to the CEC of OCDU.
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Justice Okaa, in the Suit No. AT/26/2024, ordered the second defendant, Hon. Chukwudi Ehiobu, the Administrative Secretary of OCDU to take over all the properties of OCDU, including its offices from Enemuo, the first defendant and to conduct an election of new Executive Committee of OCDU with immediate effect.
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The court also ordered the State Commissioner for Local Government, Town Union and Chieftaincy Matters to return the sum of N300,000 paid by the community if he is not ready to allow the community to activate all that is necessary to conduct an election.
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The court further ordered the first defendant to pay cost assessed as and fixed at N500,000 to the plaintiffs.
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The OCDU had at the end of what they termed as peaceful, credible, transparent, free and fair exercise, elected a 16-member Central Executive Committee with Okechukwu Odidika as it’s new President .
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In his post election speech, the newly elected President of OCDU, Odidika vowed to restore total peace in the crisis torn urban area created by the outgoing Enemuo led CEC
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Odidika who noted that the primary focus of his new executive is to carry everybody along and ensure total reconciliation and rehabilitation among the entire citizenry in the area, maintained that with the new development in the area, his administration would now join hands with the state government to build massive infrastructural facilities in the area.
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A major stakeholder in the area, Hon. Zeribe Ezeanuna said the pledge by the Odidika-led newly elected 16-man executive to pursue the part of peace and reconciliation would make Okpoko community which is one of the 179 communities in the state to heave a sigh of relief.
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Chief Godwin Ehiobu, Emeka Omeire, Chief. Okechukwu Okweji and other related members of the community said they were excited that the election went on successfully and urged Governor Chukwuma Solido’s to monitor the activities of his appointees to avoid soiling his name and Administration.
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The 16 –member executive is led by Okechukwu Odidika as President General. Other members of the executives elected included Okwudili Obioha, 1st Vice President; Sunday Ezike, 2nd Vice President; Romanus Elemuo, Secretary; Austin Ukeje, Assistant Secretary; Vincent Offor, Treasurer; Ejike Uzomba, Welfare;; Emeka Omire, Financial Secretary; Uche Uzoigwe, Chief Provost;. Linus Nwowu, Provost; Patrick Utobo, 2nd Provost; Okwudiri Ibeneme, 3rd Provost; Francis Nwanze,, 4th Provost; Martin Eze, PRO; Solomon Onyenoneke, Auditor and Barr. M. C. Ezejim, Legal Adviser.
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