By Praise Chinecherem
The mobilization committee for the Osumenyi January 5, 2024 general election has called for peace amongst the people of Osumenyi ahead of the exercise.
Chairman of the election mobilization committee, Mr Okechukwu Ikediego and his Secretary, Aloysius Nwora, in a statement, advised the contestants to accept the outcome of the election in good faith for the sake of peace.
The statement reads, “The mobilization committee for the Osumenyi January 5, 2024 general election on behalf of the entire Osumenyi youth Wednesday invited all the candidates contesting for the January election.
“Those invited were all the stakeholders including the Chairman, members of the care-taker committee, Chairman and members of the election organizing committee, all the Osumenyi village Chairmen, the youth Chairman of all the villages, Osumenyi Indigenous and parish priests, Osumenyi Anglican priests and pastors working in Osumenyi for the reading and signing of the election peace accord which took place at Osumenyi Unity Plaza.
“The aim was to harmonize and prepare all the candidates for the peaceful conduct of the coming election and commitment to accept the outcome of the election result thereafter.
“Those contesting the election are Prince Elochukwu Igwenzeka; Titus Elochukwu Mbakpobe; Chibogu Mbanugo; Peter Okafor; Hon. Anakor Ikenna; Chika Onujeme, among others.”
Addressing press men at the Unity Plaza, the Osumenyi youth President, Dr Charles Ebulue disclosed that Osumenyi town union had experienced leadership crisis for 18 years now which he said had created two dominant fractions in the town.
He revealed that the state government constituted a caretaker committee that headed the town for years.
Dr Ebulue said that the government of Governor Charles Soludo through the Ministry of Culture, Chieftaincy Matters and Local Government Affairs decided to organize the town union election for the people of Osumenyi.
“The youth of Osumenyi played vital role to bringing lasting peace to Osumenyi community.
“Though series of peace processes and reconciliation had failed, today we are happy to embrace peace, “he said.
He enumerated some of the criteria that qualified one to contest which included that the person must be an indigene of Osumenyi community; that he must be of reputable character. He said that the contestants must be of good moral standard.
Dr Ebulue assured the Osumenyi people of free and fair election, adding that the electoral committee members were highly reputed and tested to deliver transparent election.
He also said that the electoral body would be closely monitored by Anambra State Association of Town Unions, Anambra State Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, among other observers.
The Chairman of election committee, Mr Ikediego called for peace amongst the people of Osumenyi and advised the contestants to accept the outcome of the January 5 election in good faith for the sake of peace.
Mr K.C Udo on behalf of the electoral officers assured the people of Osumenyi a free and fair election.
He assured that the election would observe democratic principles and must be conducted openly and transparently to ensure that the people’s choice superseded. He said that the election must give birth to new Osumenyi.
He advised the people of Osumenyi to come out enmass to elect the candidate of their choice.
Secretary of the mobilization committee, Mr Nwora on behalf of other officials, appreciated Governor Soludo for the peace initiative in Osumenyi and promised that the election will be free and fair.
