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By Innocent Osuoha
Serious crises is now rocking the once united body binding all Town Union Presidents-General in the State known as “Association of Indigenous Imo Town Unions” over election of a new executive.
Trouble started when it dawned on the body that the present Chief Emeka Diwe (from Orlu zone) and his executive, have over stayed its tenure of constitutional one term. Article 10(2) of the body’s Constitution which dealt on election of officers stipulates that “each regime shall be in office for a single period of three to four years” term.
Trumpeta was authoritatively informed that following the over stay of the present executive, an electoral committee led by Chief Chris Chikwe was put in place to conduct an election for a new executive. But the zone to produce the President is now a cog in the wheels of the body’s progress.
An impeccable source told this Reporter that since Orlu zone had taken its share, the issue of the next zone became contentious between Owerri and Okigwe zones. However, after hot deliberations, it was decided that Okigwe and Owerri should produce contestants for the Presidential election in the interest of fair play.
However, this scenario did not go down well with some contestants who would want it to be an entirely Owerri zone affairs despite the fact that an enlarged House forum had ratified that Owerri and Okigwe should contest.
In a telephone interview, the Electoral Committee Chairman, Chief Chris Chikwe affirmed that the body’s constitution which came into effect on 3rd May, 2012 stipulated the rotation of the position of the Presidency amongst the three zones of Owerri, Okigwe and Orlu.
Chief Chikwe, who is the President of Presidents in Owerri North LGA, also confirmed that the Diwe-led executive which came on board since 2012 is still on seat till date, adding that it was the reason for the election
According to him, the agreement for Owerri and Okigwe to produce the Presidential candidates was in the spirit of fairness, equity and good.
Reacting to a newspaper publication by a member, Chief Vincon Uwandu, from Owerri zone, to the effect that the forthcoming election be made an exclusively Owerri zone affair, Chief Chikwe revealed that Owerri zone had long dissociated itself from that campaign.
He also emphatically observed that article 10(3) stipulated thus ” to qualify to stand for election as State Chairman of the body, one must be at the time of election, a serving President-General of his community as well as a serving President of Presidents (PoP) of his local government area”, amongst other conditions. The Electoral boss informed that all constitutional provisions regarding the election would be adhered to during the election which comes up on 9th Jan, 2021.
