By peter uzoma/ okey alozie
Even as arrangements for the conduct of the Community Government Council, CGC, election scheduled this weekend are still shaky, Trumpeta can exclusively reveal that there are subterranean moves by the Imo state government to tactfully edge out those said to be non APC members from holding any of the positions ranging from president General who is secretary of CGC to, woman leader and youth leader.
Trumpeta learnt that as part of Governor Rochas Okorocha’s plan to hold the grassroots and continue to maintain supremacy in the communities, the Rescue Mission government has not only planned to hijack the coming CGC election but also ensure that aspirants traceable to different party lineages other than APC do not succeed.
A top Government House, Owerri, source noted that there have been several meetings and strategic policies going on in Douglas House to ensure that only candidates with APC desire and interest emerge victorious and shortlisted to handle CGC positions at the end of the elections in the 630 auton.
The source added that the overwhelming crowd PDP recorded in its last rally, believed to have come from the rural areas sent shivers down the spines of Okorocha’s men who are exploiting the CGC election to maintain lead at the autonomous communities.
It was gathered that the subtle plot to have only APC members comprising the CGC council began yesterday during the screening exercise where all candidates from the respective autonomous communities faced panel raised by the state government and supervised by Okorocha’s appointees and agents. The recommendations of the panel will automatically throw out those suspected not to be APC compliant in their respective areas. Officials of the state government are said to be suspicious of PDP and APGA believed to be making a relaunch and in roads at the grassroots by fielding persons for the CGC positions. Our reporter who monitored the events at the various council secretariats in the 27 LGA observed that questions were thrown to aspirants during the screening to make public their party identities. Many of the aspirants were requested to produce their APC registration cards. At Umuelamai, Isiala Mbano, tension enveloped the area when a particular government appointee in charge of the exercise noted that APC identity is a criteria to qualify for election. Same applies to Ohaji/Egbema, Owerri West and Onuimo where APC card became the qualification tag.
When contacted earlier, the commissioner in charge of CGC Hon Val Mbamala denied having knowledge of such but stated that the election is going to be free and fair to all candidates adding that it will be based on option A4 in which people will be expected to cue behind the candidate of the choice.
He also hinted that after the exercise on Saturday the whole result will be declared and announced the same day.
He informed our reporter that the Government Liaison Officers, GLOs are going to supervise the election together with the TC members of various Local Government Areas disclosing that the aforementioned will be at various voting centres to ensure that there is proper accreditation before the election.
Hon Mbamala who said his Ministry is fully in charge further hinted that the contestants will be presented to their community members before the Election Day.
Meanwhile, Governor Okorocha has directed that all the contestants should present their manifestoes on Friday adding that there should not be any consensus candidate.
Feelers from various communities in Imo revealed that there is agreement to return all the past CGC members except at the communities where CGC members are not Rescue Mission and APC compliant.
Those who scale through from the election will be sworn-in on Monday next week.
Some of those who purchased the forms have complained that it is missing after submission.
They aggrieved aspirants besieged the CGC Ministry to protest against their missing form and alleged ill-treatment melted on them by members of staff. There are indications of sharp practices as some of the aggrieved person have alleged that their forms were thrown out because the refused to part with some token to pacify staffers of the ministry
The CGC election will take place in the 637 autonomous communities of Imo state on Saturday and release from government shows that it will be based on zero party.
Meanwhile, Comrade Greg Akauba Kelechi, immediate past youth leader of the defunct ACN who currently is running for the Youth Leader of Ebikoro autonomous Community CGC alleged that apart from meeting with the requirements was out screened by Dr. Obi Njoku who is currently an appointee of Governor Okorocha and an APC Crusader.
Dr Obi Njoku who insisted that Akauba Kelechi and others should produce his tax clearance contrary to the constitutional requirements for the position refused to appreciate that some of the aspirants are applicants who ordinarily cannot pay taxes.
He accused him of high handedness in the affairs of the CGC which is contrary to the Owelle Rochas Okorocha’s instruction. “The conduct of Dr. Obi Njoku is self centred and contrary to the zoning arrangement in Ebikoro autonomous Community and the tenets of free and fair contest under a democratic setting”.
He therefore appealed to Governor Okoroha to revisit the modalities and conduct of some of his appointees in the on going CGC screening and election in the communities.
