By Enyim enyim

ONITSHA—The Onitsha traditional council of Ndi-Diokpa has petitioned the national chairman  and Anambra State chairman of All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Chief Victor Umeh and Chief Mike Kwentor, respectively, over alleged irregularities, manoeuvres and fraud in the just concluded primaries for State House of Assembly aspirants in Onitsha north II constituency held on January 6, 2011.

In a petition made available to Vanguard, the council described the primaries as a daylight robbery and a rape on democracy
The Council of Diokpa’s letter followed a petition to the council by one Emejulu  Afam over alleged manipulation of his primaries’ result and substitution of his name with that of his opponent.

Emejulu had in the letter to the Council alleged that the Electoral Committee for Onitsha 2 constituency in the primaries had openly before the primaries told him that he was wasting his time vying for the position, adding that the seat was reserved for non-indigenes.

He said the committee organized, supervised, and conducted the election at Justice Chuba  Ikpeazu Station, Onitsha , where he scored 93 votes and his opponent, 40, before the result was awarded to his opponent.

Contacted, Mr. Uche Ubajiaka, who is the chairman of the committee, denied ever having any discussion with Emejulu before or after the election.

He said the complaint of awarding his result to any of the four contestant to the post should be directed to the party for an answer..
The Council of Ndi-Diokpas in its letter signed by Akunwata Ojibah, Ojinnaka John Emodi and Ejike Atuona, Chairman, Vice Chairman and Secretary, respectively, alleged that it had already been informed about the gang up against Onitsha people and Emejulu, in particular, in that election.

“Ndi-Diokpas had already been informed about activities of the committee and we reliably confirm with the treatment meted out on Emejulu that the committee are anti-Onitsha people.

“It is a clear fact that democracy, through election, is for the protection of all interests, indigenes and non-indigenes alike, but ours is a clear manifestation of injustice so that they will continue to share what belongs to us and distribute same among themselves,” the council stated.

It appealed the to the national and state leadership of APGA to call those involved and investigate the allegations against the committee members that conducted the election.

“APGA is a trusted party which all of us accepted and we believe that Governor Peter Obi will not tolerate this kind of electoral fraud that was organized against Mr. Afam Emejulu because they want Onitsha North 2 at all cost,” said Ndi-Diokpa.

The council said it accepted, as a civilized conduct on an electoral process, that whoever  won should be allowed to have a ticket for the next election.

“We are, therefore, waiting for the outcome of your investigation into the electoral fraud organized by the committee against an Onitsha son, Anambra State and Nigeria at large.

“A quick intervention in this matter will save the integrity of the party in the state.  We will, however, be forced to campaign against the party and seek redress in the law court if the party fails to redress this wrong,” the council threatened.