By Okechukwu Onuegbu
The people of Urum Community in Awka North Local Government Area, Anambra State, Thursday, restated their resolve to assist the State government in conducting free and fair Town Union elections.
The community gave their stand at a meeting held at the Obu Ori Urum on the instance of the traditional ruler of the community, HRM Igwe (Dr.) B. O. Nweke , the Chairman of Akaeze Village and Chairman of all Chairmen, Mr. Fidelis Arinze, including the former Presidents General, and Chairmen of all the four villages that make up the community.
Rising from the meeting, the people agreed to give all necessary support to the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs to ensure that they conduct a credible election for the two candidates contesting for the post of President General.
Part of the resolution reached by the community is that the Chairmen of the four villages will pilot the Affairs of the community with the traditional ruler until a new executive is democratically put in place through the ballot on Saturday 30th March 2024.
The meeting also passed a vote of no confidence on the former members of the electoral committee constituted by the former President General, Mr Alloy Tabansi on the ground that they were not nominated by the people but rather handpicked.
According to the people, they were no longer comfortable with the neutrality of the Chairman of the electoral committee who is a direct in-law to one of the candidates contesting for the President General of Urum Development Union.
Shortly after the vote of no confidence was passed, the Community mandated the Chairmen of each of the villages to be resolute and be ready to allow the entire people to nominate individuals on Election Day who will serve as election committee and observers.
The Communique which was signed by the traditional ruler and other stakeholders was also copied to the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, the Nigeria Police, the DSS, and other relevant bodies for record purposes.
The people noted that with a peaceful election, the community will no doubt experience more development especially now that governor Chukwuma Soludo led administration is doing everything possible to ensure that all parts of the state enjoy dividends of democracy.
An election was conducted for the people of Urum on the 30th of December 2023, at the community primary school.
The election which was contested by two sons of the community witnessed a large turnout of voters but incidentally could not produce a winner.
After several petitions, claims, allegations, and accusations, the Anambra state government waded in and resolved that a rerun election would be conducted to get a winner and new executive that would pilot the Affairs of the community for the next three years.
A notification letter from the state Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs dated 8th March 2024, reads, ”sequel to controversies associated with the Urum development union election held on the 30th December 2023, and the inability of parties to resolve issues especially as it concerns the positions of president general and vice president general. The state government by this letter rescheduling the election for 30th March 2024 for a re-run, of the Urum Development Union election for the best interest of the community and the state in general”.