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Crisis is looming in Obingwa Local Government Area, the home of Abia State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, over the contest for the chairmanship position of the council in the December 18 LG elections in the state.
Pointblanknews.com gathered that there exists a rotational agreement between Obingwa East and Obingwa West state constituencies of Obingwa LGA. The immediate past Executive Chairman, Chief Sunday Hanson Amaechi hails from Obingwa West constituency while the Obingwa East axis is expected to produce his successor. Governor Ikpeazu hails from Umuobiakwa in Ward 7 in Obingwa East state constituency.
However, over 12 aspirants on the platform of the Governor’s party, the PDP, are jostling for the position as the date draws near for the PDP primaries. The aspirants hail from the four out of the five political wards of Obingwa East state constituency.
They include George Ubani-(Ward 8); Michael Ibe Nwoke-(Ward 7); Chukwunenye Enyinnaya, -(Ward 11); Douglas Nwaorji- (Ward 9); Ahaoma Amalaha (Ward 13); Ngozi Nworu (Ward 11) and Chimaroke Nwaogu- (Ward 7); among others.
There have been agitations from majority of politicians in Obingwa LGA that wards 8, 9, 11 in Obingwa East constituency who had never produced the Executive chairman of the council should be supported to do so in the December 18 polls. The People of Wards 8 and 9 have never occupied the chairmanship position in Obingwa LGA.
A narrative of Wards in Obingwa East constituency who had produced the chairman of the council indicates that the Governor Ikpeazu’s Ward 7 had occupied the position six times as Executive chairman and Transition Committee chairman, respectively. These were during the tenures of Chief Isaac Ogbonna, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu (current Governor of Abia State; Chief Rowland Nwakanma, (current DGM ASEPA); Elder Godwin Nna and Mr. Kingsley Nnanji (current TC chairman, Obingwa LGA). It is clear that Ward 7 (Alaukwu Ohanze) has had a fair share of the chairmanship position of the council.
Besides Ward 7, Ward 10 from the same Obingwa East constituency had also produced two chairmen through late Chief Enyinnaya Ihediwa and Kelechi Nwankpa. Hon. Onyekachi Nwulu from Ward 11 also had a brief stint as TC chairman of the council.
Ahead of the December 18 council polls, stakeholders from Ward 7 including former Deputy Governor, Chief Acho Nwakanma have queued behind Chief Michael Ibe Nwoke who hails from the same Ward 7 that had produced 6 chairmen. Nwoke has allegedly entered into a pact with the ex Deputy Governor who has continued recruiting supporters for him.
Sources told Pointblanknews.com that the Abia State First Lady, Deaconess Nkechi Ikpeazu, who is a sister to the former Deputy Governor, is also working with him to ensure Nwoke gets elected to the position. Lots of party officials and stakeholders are said to have been compromised in favour of Nwakanma’s favoured aspirant.
According to a political stakeholder from Obingwa East Constituency who pleaded anonymity, “Is it justified for ward 7 to produce another chairman after 6 good times? What about other wards that haven’t tested the position? Since the present governor, Dr.Okezie Ikpeazu is from the same ward 7, the chairmanship seat ought to have been zoned to Ward 8 or 9 who has never tasted the position. Governor Ikpeazu is a child of equity; he should ensure that equity reigns in Obingwa LGA. It is unfair for Ward 7 to produce the chairman even with all the top positions they hold in Abia State.
“It has always been Chief Acho Nwakanma’s plot to have all the positions occupied by his Ohanze people in Ward 7. He always want to play the godfather. This has been his style of politics. Why can’t he support an aspirant from Ward 8,9 or 11? What is wrong for somebody from these marginalized areas becoming chairman, at least to give a sense of belonging to the people? These people are only remembered during elections .It is unfair and undemocratic.”