-by our correspondent.
Following a disputed election held over the weekend at Dan Anyim Stadium in Owerri, the Imo State capital, Prof. George Obiozor, former Nigerian ambassador to United States, Israel and Cyprus, has emerged the President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo.
According to the election umpire, Gerry Igariwe, who announced the winner, Prof. Obiozor got 304 votes to beat other contestants to the position.
President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Prof. George Obiozor
Reports say many candidates boycotted the elections in protest over lack of transparency with some accusing the outgoing president general, Nnia Nwodo, of destroying the apex Igbo socio-cultural organization. One of the candidates for Ohanaeze Ndigbo President-General position who boycotted the election, Prof Chidi Osuagwu, described the electoral process as fraudulent.
The aspirants for the position of the National Publicity Secretary, a former youth leader of the organization, Ikechukwu Oji, who also withdrew from the race, in a statement described the polls as “a show of shame”, while the Board of Trustee Member representing Rivers State in the socio cultural body, Jackson Omenazu, said the outgoing president general was misleading the Igbo nation.
He explained that his withdrawal from the contest was in support of the Imeobi, (the highest decision making organ of Ohanaeze Ndigbo) members and other critical stakeholders of Ohanaeze Ndigbo’s decision that the election should be suspended.
Former President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, John Nwodo
“The concerned Imeobi members had insisted that the election be postponed and a caretaker committee under the Christian Association of Nigeria, South-East, be set up to make way for the conduct of a more credible and transparent election to save Ndigbo from shame and chaos,” he said.
Despite the protests and withdrawals, the electoral umpire, Igariwe, said the process was smooth and transparent. It’s now left to be seen how the Igbo Nation will respond to the disputed election.
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