Concerned People of Obodoakpu Community Protest Town Union Election, Beg Mbah To Intervene

Some members of Obodoakpu Agbogugu autonomous community in Awgu Local Government Area of Enugu State,
have protested the community’s town union election purportedly slated to hold on Saturday (today) April 12, 2025.

They pleaded with the Enugu State Government to allow them choose their Town Union President.

The residents under the aegis of Concerned People of Obodoakpu Agbogugu autonomous community accused the Enugu State Commissioner for Local Government, Rural Development & Chieftaincy Affairs, Deacon Okey Ogbodo, of breach of the community’s constitution in the alleged conduct of the election.

They unanimously rejected the move and vowed not to participate in any election held outside the 2004 constitution of the community.

Concerned People of Obodoakpu Agbogugu autonomous community

Explaining the grievances of the community members, the Youth Leader, Obodoakpu Autonomous Community, Prince Ikechukwu Aputa, said the community had existing Town Union Constitution written and adopted in 2004 and was still valid and operational till date.

He explained that all the past Presidents General and members of Executive that have ruled the Community were elected in strict compliance with the 2004 constitution.

The youth leader insisted that the community had not adopted a new Town Union Constitution and did not deposit any new constitution in the ministry of Rural Development Enugu State to replace the 2004 constitution.

He said, “Obodoakpu Community during her General Assembly in 2022, appointed Constitution Review Committee headed by one Barrister Osmond Okoye to review the 2004 Constitution of Obodoakpu.

“The Committee has not completed its assignment so as to submit the draft to the General Assembly in any of their plenaries which holds three (3) times every year at the National headquarters in Obodoakpu Agbogugu.

“That the chairman of the Constitution Review Committee Barrister Osmond Okoye in February, 2025 via both voice message and on Obodoakpu whatsapp platform confirmed that the Committee is still working on the new constitution.

“That his comments were well collaborated by Dr. Nevo Callistus and Ude MCCollins both members of the Constitution Review Committee.

“That the committee is working on the new constitution to be submitted later when completed.

“That the members of the Review Committee that spoke on the General Whatsapp platform of Obodoakpu cautioned the people to discountenance any suggestion real or imagined that Obodoakpu now has a new constitution as such did not emanate from the constitution review committee.

“That the constitution review committee are still working on the draft.

“That it is surprising to the people of Obodoakpu that the President General and his executives are busy parading what they purport to be a new constitution of Obodakpu Town Union already signed and dated 19th and 30th August 2023.

The community urged the ministry not to conduct the election with any other document rather the 2004 constitution which says one tenure of four years and no second tenure so as not to plunge the people into crisis and anarchy.

Another member of the group, Mr. Odionyenfe Okoye, wondered why the ministry was determined on going ahead with the election when the constitution review committee was still working to get a new constitution for the community.

Mr Okoye, said they were supposed to hold their election in January, 2025 and was told that the ministry was coming to help them in the constitution amendment.

They held reconciliatory meeting and they all signed and agreed that the President -General, Mr. Fidelis Ndubuisi Nwudeigwe, will be given one more year to lead them, “surprisingly, they planned for election, went behind and collected date from the ministry.

He alleged that the ministry had earlier told them that there was no free date in April for town Union election, that all dates had been taken, only for the President -General and his group to tell them that they were given April 12, 2025 by the ministry of Chieftaincy and rural development to conduct their election. They said “the date is not acceptable”.

He added that the Commissioner for Chieftaincy and Rural Development, Hon. Okey Ogbodo told them that he had signed the amended constitution and that they should go to court.

Also, Mr. Fidelis Mudigwe, alleged that the outgoing President-General tampered with the draft. He said he wanted to correct a mistake there, only for him to amend some parts of the draft to suit his second term bid which their 2004 constitution did not allow.

The community, he said, insisted that the 2004 construction should be the working  document for their election and not the draft of the amendment which they alleged the President General changed to suit him.

Another member of the community, Mr. Hyacinth Udeh, urged the government to constitute a caretaker town Union  leadership in the community and stop the April 12, 2025, election while the Constitution amendment committee do its job and get the amendment of the 2004 constitution completed before an election would be held and for them to have a workable document for their election..

When contacted, the Commissioner for Local Government, Rural Development & Chieftaincy Affairs, Deacon Okey Ogbodo, said all necessary steps were taken to ensure a smooth election in the community.

He said the ministry did not conduct election, rather observe elections.

Deacon Ogbodo added that the amended constitution was read to the General Assembly and they adopted it as a working document, which he approved and stamped.

He said verification of the constitution was done and that the traditional ruler of the community was also aware and in support that the election should proceed with the new constitution.

The Commissioner also disclosed that the election had been scheduled to take place on Saturday, (today)April 12,2025 and interested people should contest.