News
Town Union Election: Enugu Community Accuses Commissioner Of Bias
SummitNews gathered that Commissioner Ogbodo has unilaterally slated Saturday, December 14, 2024 as the date of election-by-delegates, which the incumbent Executive and most people in Awhum firmly charged as strange and foreign to the Awhum Town Union Constitution of 1985.
Their Constitution, they said, states, in Section 28, that “election shall be by raising of hands at the assembly of the General Assembly or standing in line behind candidates of choice of each member/voter.”
They wondered where Mr. Ogbodo was bringing his election-by-delegates from since their Constitution had a position which had run from time immemorial or about the era before the Nigeria – Biafra war and the 1970s.
The problem of the incumbent Executive of Awhum Town Central Union, started in early July this year when it formerly wrote and notified the Ministry of impending end-of-tenure on September 15, 2024.
According to the President General, Comrade Ralph Ochubelu, “the letter notifying the government was to first raise awareness on the approach of end of tenure, and secondly for a date to be fixed and announced for new elections before the expiration of tenure.”
The Ministry, our Correspondent gathered, had formally received the memo, stamped and acknowledged it, but strangely, this memo soon got missing until an alarm was raised.
The incumbent Executive and members of the Community soon developed fears that something unbecoming was being hatched as there was still no word from the Ministry.
Their fears were confirmed, September 4, when the Commissioner summoned the PG; members of his Executive Council; Chairmen of Village Assemblies and some stakeholders and, from the blues, announced that he had powers to set up a “Caretaker Committee” or appoint a “Sole Administrator” for the Community.
It was gathered that he was challenged there by one of the stakeholders, an Ex-Commissioner, who told him that he was departing from the path of peace if he allowed some manipulators to lead him into such thing as the Caretaker Committee or Sole Administrator.
“There is no emergency, whatsoever, to warrant a Caretaker Committee or Sole Administrator. The tenure of the present Executive is still running and even if it exceeds by a few weeks, it was not going to be the first, as the immediate past administration had nine months in excess of the tenure. The one before that ran for two extra years. So, why the hurry to talk about Caretaker Committee or Sole Administrator?”
The former Commissioner was said to have firmly stated that only crisis or breakdown in law and order would necessitate the appointment of Caretaker Committee or Sole Administrator, and none of such was in place.
The Commissioner then asked members of the Community to go back to the village and await his announcement on radio. This, the Community felt, was unusual. It was never this way. Much as they had in the past encountered attempts by officials of government to help Candidates in Town Union elections, as elsewhere, this appeared pointing in a scary direction.
Unsettled by this development, the P.G, his Executives and some stakeholders quickly retained the services of BackBond Law Firm, which promptly outlined the legal implications of the Commissioner, and reasons for him to intervene.
Commissioner Ogbodo soon called the Town Executives and stakeholders to announce that the Governor had directed that an election be conducted, according to the Constitution of the Town Union.
He announced the setting up of an Electoral Committee, and named the Members, without the input of the Community, except those for whom he appeared to be working for, to install a Caretaker Committee or Sole Administrator.
In the words of the Deputy President General, Comrade Okey Ngwuagu, he, Commissioner Ogbodo just “announced an Electoral Committee, all by himself, without reference to the Community or their leaders, himself not being from the Community” but believed to be manipulated by some minority elements who are scared of general elections.
He set November 9, 2024 as the date of Election but his Electoral Committee moved it to November 16, without informing the Community.
Our Correspondent gathered that this election produced less than 10 percent of expected results as voting was held only for the office of the P. G, largely due to what one resident described as the “incompetence of Ogbodo’s Electoral Committee and seeming connivance of the officials of the Ministry, on ground.”
“Counting of votes was not well-coordinated,” a Ministry source disclosed.
According to the source, Chairman of the Electoral Committee, a said Mr. James Ugbor, “started the counting from the four and half lines formed by the supporters of the incumbent PG, Comrade Ochubeku, in favour of whom he recorded and announced 671 heads/votes.”
In the case of the opponent, Mr. Okey Okolo, he was observed to be lax with measures to control the crowd or prevent double appearance on the line, “and that was what finally marred the election. People were caught on camera voting multiple times. Some were seen using fuel and other chemicals to remove the ink-marks on their fingers so that they voted again and again. From the two and half lines formed by Okolo’s supporters, the Electoral Committee scored him 633 votes/heads.
Election into that post alone, against several experiences in the past, lasted over seven hours.
Yet, strangely, Commissioner Ogbodo refused to announce Comrade Ochubelu (the incumbent PG) the winner.
Rather, the Commissioner refused any further communications with the Community.
He was also reported to have ignored all the letters written by various lawyers, asking him to act quickly to stem any unbecoming development from his seeming curious interest in installing a Caretaker Committee or Sole Administrator in the Community; or to be guided by the Constitution of the Community in question before he embarked on his “strange” election-by-delegates.
“He ignored all,” our correspondent gathered.
President of the town’s Youth Association, Prince Tyla Onoduenyi, last Saturday, led a demonstration of the youths in the old Nkwo market square, where they sang their disapproval of the Election-by-Delegates, amid brandishing of placards.
He said, “Elections in the Town Union Executive Councils are always by general elections where voters stand in line/s behind their preferred candidates where they were counted, ever so since the 1970s or before, till date.”
The placards bore such wording as “Delegates Election is strange to our Constitution,” “We have never heard of such election before”, “Who will select the delegates?” “By what criteria would the delegates be selected?” “Commissioner do not bring confusion into Awhum”, “It is General Election or Nothing”.
But what has suddenly made a quiet, sleepy community as Awhum so attractive to the Honoruable Commissioner and officials of his Ministry to throw every caution to the wind to interfere in election of mere Executives of the Town Union?
Sources attribute this development to deft moves of operatives of mineral explorers in the vicinity who are said to be ever discomforted with independent locality administrators wherever they operate, except they are their puppets.
However, there is no evidence to back up this claim.
Other sources believe that these interferences arose from the absence of, and the tussle for, the vacant stool of the traditional ruler (Igwe) of the Community. MmThe last Igwe passed away in June of 2018, and the incumbent Town Union Executive Council had almost completed the process of a new one emerging, having narrowed it to one candidate following the withdrawal of one of the two frontrunners.
Some members of the Community, especially believed to have had stints in government are said to be opposed to the 1976 Igweship Constitution of the town already published in Government Gazette of 2010, and which amendment can only be undertaken “if approval by the Governor is first had and obtained.”
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, has approved the expansion of the Nigerian Army’s structure from eight to twelve divisions—a landmark move to enhance the country’s security architecture and improve the operational effectiveness of the Nigerian Army.
In a statement, Special Adviser to the President on (Information & Strategy) Bayo Onanuga says, “this approval underscores the President’s unwavering commitment to equipping the Armed Forces to address Nigeria’s evolving security challenges effectively and to strengthen national defence capabilities further.”According to the statement, “the expansion builds on the Administration’s sustained investments in the Armed Forces, including approval for the recruitment of 28,000 additional personnel, acquisition of critical military platforms and equipment, improvements in troop welfare, and ongoing support for operational readiness and force modernisation.”Under the new structure, the Nigerian Army will operate twelve divisions, strategically positioned across the country as follows:1. 1 Division Headquarters – Kaduna (Kaduna, Kano, Katsina and Jigawa States)2. 2 Division Headquarters – Ibadan (Oyo, Osun, Ekiti and Ondo States)3. 3 Division Headquarters – Jos (Plateau, Bauchi and Gombe States)4. 5 Division Headquarters – Makurdi (Benue, Nasarawa and Kogi States)5. 6 Division Headquarters – Port Harcourt (Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River States)6. 7 Division Headquarters – Maiduguri (Borno and Yobe States)7. 8 Division Headquarters – Sokoto (Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara States)8. 9 Division Headquarters – Ilorin (Kwara and Niger States)9. 10 Division Headquarters – Jalingo (Taraba and Adamawa States)10. 81 Division Headquarters – Lagos (Lagos and Ogun States)11. 82 Division Headquarters – Enugu (Enugu, Anambra, Abia, Ebonyi and Imo States)12. 83 Division Headquarters – Benin City (Edo, Delta and Bayelsa States).The establishment of the new Divisions in Makurdi, Ilorin, Jalingo and Benin City will significantly improve command and control, decentralise operational decision-making, strengthen border security, enhance the protection of critical national infrastructure, improve counter-insurgency and internal security operations, and ensure faster military response to emerging threats nationwide.Implementation of the new force structure will be done in two phases.
The Ndigbo Unity Forum (NUF) worldwide, a pan-Igbo socioeconomic pressure group, has urged the Federal Government to direct the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) to supply Dangote Petroleum Refinery adequate crude.
The Chairman of NUF, Chief Augustine Chukwudum, made the call on Wednesday in Enugu while reacting to Dangote Petroleum Refinery’s move to start direct sales of refined Petroleum products in dollars.
It would be recalled that a top management official of the Dangote Group said that its refinery was receiving just four million barrels of crude oil monthly under the arrangement, instead of about 13 million barrels envisaged after President Bola Tinubu’s 2024 directive.
The refinery had attributed its decision to switch from naira-denominated fuel sales domestically to dollar transactions to the crude supply shortfall, saying it would also increase exports of refined petroleum products to earn foreign exchange.
Chukwudum called on the Federal Government to intervene urgently before things get out of hand and Nigerians suffer the more.
According to him, fuel price remains major determinant of prices of other commodities and services in the country as transport cost depends on.
“Things are bound to get worst if the Federal Government neglect to take immediate and decisive actions meant to better the life of the citizens.
“NUF is rasing this alarm because this administration is behaving as if they are not answerable to the people their are supposed to be serving.
“The Federal Government should direct NNPCL to supply all the crude oil needed by Dangote Refinery since the company has the capacity to meet local or domestic petroleum needs of the country.
“The government must stop all forms of fuel importation because that money been used for importation is a waste and put a pressure on our fragile foreign reserve as a nation,” he said.
The NUF boss noted that the refinery company must be allowed to pay in naira with this move, suffering of citizens would be curtailed.
Chukwudum also reiterated the call of the group for the Federal Government to set up judicial panel of inquiry to look into the account of NNPCL for some years now.
A commotion reportedly erupted at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office in Onitsha South Local Government Area of Anambra State after some officials were accused of demanding ₦2,000 from applicants before processing voter registration and Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).
The allegation surfaced in a video circulating on social media, which showed what appeared to be a heated confrontation between applicants and officials at the electoral commission’s office.
According to a resident who narrated the incident in the video, some INEC officials allegedly insisted that applicants pay ₦2,000 before their voter registration or PVC processing could be completed.
The situation reportedly escalated when one of the applicants challenged the alleged demand, insisting that voter registration and PVC-related services are free and should not attract any payment.
The applicant was said to have confronted the officials and attempted to record the exchange with a mobile phone, triggering a heated argument that attracted other applicants and bystanders.
Although raised voices and a commotion could be heard in the footage, the circumstances surrounding the incident could not be independently verified.
The video has since sparked reactions on social media, with many Nigerians condemning the alleged extortion and calling on INEC to investigate the incident and sanction anyone found culpable.
INEC has consistently maintained that voter registration services are free of charge. These include fresh registration, collection of PVCs, transfer of voter information, correction of personal details, and replacement of lost or damaged PVCs.
The commission has also repeatedly urged members of the public to report any cases of extortion, bribery or illegal charges involving its permanent or ad hoc staff during voter registration and PVC distribution.
As of the time of filing this report, INEC had not issued an official statement specifically addressing the allegations involving its Onitsha South Local Government Area office.
The incident comes as the electoral commission continues its nationwide Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise ahead of the 2027 general elections.
INEC has also introduced an online self-service platform to enable prospective voters and existing registrants to complete several registration-related processes conveniently, while reiterating that voter registration services remain free of charge.
MainPower Electricity Distribution Limited (MEDL) has restored power supply to parts of Enugu metropolis, which witnessed darkness.
Some parts of Enugu metropolis, under the Band A tariff regime, during the weekend witnessed three consecutive days of blackout.
The Head, Communications of MainPower, Mr Emeka Ezeh, disclosed this in a statement he issued on Tuesday in Enugu.
According to him, MainPower wishes to inform its esteemed customers that power supply to the Gariki Injection Substation was successfully restored on Monday, July 20, at about 8:30p.m.
“This is following the successful resolution of a major fault involving the indoor 11kV breaker at the station.
“The fault, which occurred on Friday, July 17, affected electricity supply to customers served by the Army and Gariki 11kV feeders.
“Consequently, normal electricity supply has now been restored to all affected areas,” he said.
Ezeh appreciated residents and customers for their patience, understanding and cooperation throughout the outage.
He noted that the company remained committed to delivering safe, reliable, and improved electricity services to its customers and residents of the state.
It would be recalled that MainPower, which is a subsidiary of the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC), is in-charge of electricity distribution in Enugu State.
By Okey Maduforo, Awka
Four herders and several cattle were killed on Tuesday when suspected gunmen attacked a cattle camp in Ifite Awka Community, Awka South Local Government Area of Anambra State.
The incident has sparked concern in Awka, the state capital, as the attackers reportedly invaded the settlement and opened fire on the herders before fleeing the scene.
The attack has also prompted the leadership of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) to appeal for calm among its members, expressing confidence that the perpetrators would be apprehended and brought to justice.
In a statement, the National Deputy Director-General of MACBAN, Gidado Siddiki, said the four deceased herders were members of the same family.
According to him, the incident occurred at the cattle camp of Alhaji Aminu Mohammed on Tuesday, July 21, 2026.
He said, “According to reports, unknown armed assailants invaded the cattle camp while the herders were peacefully engaged in their legitimate cattle-rearing activities.
“The attackers opened fire sporadically, resulting in the deaths of four herders, namely Mohammed Bujumi, Hassan Bujumi, Abubakar Bujumi and Sani Bujumi.
“Several cattle were also killed during the attack, while the assailants reportedly fled with some of the cattle carcasses towards the nearby Mgbakwu Community.”
Siddiki added that another herder, identified as Usman Iliyasu, narrowly escaped the attack.
MACBAN condemned the incident as “heinous and senseless,” calling on security agencies to immediately investigate the attack, apprehend those responsible and prosecute them.
The association also urged the Anambra State Government to take urgent steps to strengthen security and protect the lives and property of residents.
While appreciating the prompt intervention of the Joint Task Force and the state government in recovering the bodies of the victims, Siddiki appealed to MACBAN members to remain calm and avoid taking the law into their own hands.
“We urge everyone to cooperate fully with the security agencies and allow the government to carry out the necessary investigations and take appropriate action to ensure justice is served,” he said.
Confirming the attack, the Anambra State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, said a police-led joint security team responded to the scene following a distress call.
He said the operatives discovered the bodies of four male victims who had suffered fatal injuries.
“Preliminary observations revealed that the victims had their hands tied and sustained multiple injuries, including machete cuts and blunt force trauma. Also, two residential huts within the settlement were set ablaze during the attack,” Ikenga said.
The police spokesperson further disclosed that four dead cows were found within the vicinity, while two other cattle had been slaughtered, with portions of their meat removed.
He added that security operatives recovered sacks containing abandoned chunks of meat a short distance from the scene.
According to Ikenga, preliminary findings indicated that the attackers were armed with sophisticated weapons, including AK-47 rifles, pump-action guns, double-barrel guns and machetes.
He said one survivor escaped unharmed and was assisting the police-led joint security team with useful information that could aid the investigation.
The Anambra State Police Command urged members of the public to remain calm and cooperate with security agencies by providing credible and timely information that could assist the ongoing investigation.
The Command said further developments would be communicated as the investigation progresses.
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