The concerned citizens of Abbi in Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State have called on Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah to call his Commissioner for Local Government, Rural Development and Chieftaincy Matters, Deacon Okey Ogbodo, to order over his alleged plans to foist a President-General on the Abbi community.
The group made this call on Tuesday, through a press statement signed by its National President, Chief V.N. Ajogwu, and sent to newsmen in Enugu.
He stated that the Town Union election, which took place on May 3, 2025, at Central School Abbi, was marred by serious irregularities and was declared inconclusive by many observers, including the monitors from the ministry.
He posited that it was surprising and troubling to hear that the Commissioner is allegedly making moves to issue a certificate of return to one of the candidates, Mr. Mathias Ajogwu, despite the controversy surrounding the exercise.
He also accused the Commissioner of being biased and compromised during the election and warned that any attempt to impose a leader on the people of Abbi without following due process would be strongly resisted.
Chief Ajogwu also stressed that the community would not fold its hands and watch its rights being taken for granted.
He went further to allege that Deacon Ogbodo has a history of interfering in community elections across Uzo-Uwani since he became the Commissioner, including in Adani and Nrobo, where he was accused of collecting money from candidates.
He warned that such acts must not be repeated in Abbi and urged the Governor to protect his name and administration from the scandal brewing under his appointee.
The statement reads,
PRESS STATEMENT BY CONCERNED CITIZENS OF ABBI COMMUNITY ON THE CONTROVERSIAL TOWN UNION ELECTION OF MAY 3, 2025
We, the concerned citizens of Abbi community in Uzo Uwani Local Government Area, write to express our deep concern and growing anger over the suspicious developments surrounding the outcome of the recently conducted Town Union election held on Saturday, May 3rd, 2025, at Central School Abbi.
The election, which was contested by Mr. Mike Dieke of Isiyi village and Chief Mathias Ajogwu of Umushere village, was supervised by the Enugu State Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Chieftaincy Matters, led by the Honourable Commissioner, Deacon Okey Ogbodo. From the conduct of that election, it became clear that there were serious irregularities, and the credibility of the entire process is now in question. Both candidates and several observers have openly accused the ministry of bias and compromise.
It is disturbing to hear reliable reports that the Commissioner is making moves to issue a certificate of return to Mr. Ajogwu Mathias in spite of the overwhelming evidence of malpractice and strong public opposition same with the election being inconclusive. Let it be known that such an action will not stand. Any attempt to force an unpopular candidate on the people of Abbi will not only provoke widespread resistance but will also threaten the peace and unity of the community.
We wish to also remind the public that this same Commissioner has been accused, on multiple occasions, of collecting money during similar processes in other Uzo Uwani communities, including Adani and Nrobo, among others. The people of Abbi refuse to be the next victims of such questionable conduct. We will not allow our sacred traditional institutions and democratic processes to be auctioned off for personal gain.
We therefore call on His Excellency, Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, a man of peace and fairness, to urgently intervene and call his Commissioner to order. The good name and peaceful legacy of the Governor must not be dragged into the mud by appointees who may be pursuing personal or political agendas at the expense of the people’s will.
Let the truth stand. Let the voice of the people of Abbi be respected. The days of backdoor leadership imposition are over. Our people deserve a process that is clean, transparent, and accountable. Any short-cut will only worsen distrust in government and deepen division within our community.
We reaffirm our stand for peace, but we will not fold our arms while our rights are being trampled on. We ask all lovers of justice to rise and speak now, before it is too late. The election held in our community was inconclusive and we cannot allow the commissioner to foist a leader on us.
Signed:
Chief V.N Ajogwu
President, Concerned Citizens of Abbi.
Comments