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| Gerald Ilechukwu and Papa T Onyimba |
In the latter part of the previous year, specifically around November, the people of Mgbidi came to a collective and unanimous decision to elect a new government, as the leadership of the sitting government had reached its expiration date on December 31, 2023. However, despite the fact that their term had ended, the current government persisted in unlawfully occupying the seat of the MCU. At the time, the Post of the PG was held by Mr. Alex Okeke.
In response to the mounting and overwhelming call from the people of Mgbidi for a fresh election, the former PG, Pastor Alex Okeke, boldly declared that December 31, 2024, would be the date of the upcoming election. This announcement followed a series of intensive and deliberative meetings, during which Pastor Okeke earnestly and resolutely assured the citizens that there would be no hindrances, no obstacles, and absolutely nothing that could prevent the election from taking place on the set date. His declaration was clear and firm, with an unequivocal promise that the election would proceed as planned.
Amidst these developments, the two Royal Fathers of Mgbidi confirmed the designated election date and took the decisive step of dissolving the sitting MCU leadership. This dissolution effectively paved the way for the creation of a three-member electoral committee, whose responsibility it would be to oversee the election and ensure its fairness, transparency, and alignment with the community’s expectations. This was to be a democratic process, and it was clear that a well-structured approach was needed. Consequently, the two Igwes, in collaboration with the general platform, nominated and voted for members of the electoral committee through an online poll.
In this process, Mr. Festus Ifeji was appointed by HRH Igwe PD Uzochukwu, while Mr. Gerald Ilechukwu was appointed by HRH Igwe OAU Uhalla. The general platform nominated Mr. Karl Obinta and another individual, Mr. Stanley. The online poll concluded with Mr. Karl Obinta emerging as the victor and being duly elected as the Chairman of the three-person electoral committee. His election was widely accepted, as it was viewed as a fair and democratic outcome, given that it was the result of a transparent voting process.
However, despite the apparent fairness of the process, a cloud of suspicion was cast over Mr. Obinta when he was accused of having links to one of the candidates as a member of their campaign team. This accusation sparked controversy and stirred debate among the public. However, the allegation was thoroughly investigated, and it was ultimately proven to be unfounded and without merit. All evidence pointed to the fact that there was no truth to the claims, and the accusations were swiftly dismissed.
To provide a broader perspective, it is important to note that the MCU election follows a well-established constitutional procedure that dictates how the election should be conducted. This constitutional framework was carefully laid out to ensure fairness, transparency, and the involvement of the people in the electoral process. At the outset of the election process, HRH Igwe PD Uzochukwu, who had appointed Mr. Festus Ifeji to the electoral committee, later saw his appointee reject the appointment through his nephew, Maduako Ifeji, who resides in France. This caused a disruption in the process, and HRH Igwe PD Uzochukwu had no choice but to replace Mr. Ifeji with Mr. Papa T Onyimba.
Once the three-person electoral committee was fully constituted, with Mr. Obinta as the chairman, it was expected that the committee would work harmoniously to ensure that the election was conducted smoothly and effectively. The people of Mgbidi held high hopes that the electoral process would reflect the integrity and values that the community cherishes. The election was of particular importance, as it was to take place under the leadership of HRH Igwe OAU Uhalla, a relatively new Igwe who had not yet been in power for two years. The successful outcome of this election was seen as an important milestone for his leadership.
However, tensions began to rise when the two appointed members of the electoral committee, Mr. Gerald Ilechukwu and Mr. Papa T Onyimba, expressed their intention to adopt a delegate-based method for the election, which was in direct contradiction to the MCU constitution. Mr. Karl Obinta, as the elected chairman, stood firm in his belief that the election must adhere strictly to the constitutional provisions. His insistence on following the constitution created a rift within the electoral committee, which soon escalated into an argument that led to a meeting convened by the two Royal Fathers.
Rather than supporting Mr. Karl Obinta’s stance and reaffirming the constitutional process, the two Royal Fathers attempted to persuade him to accept the illegal delegate method of conducting the election. It became clear that there was a significant divergence in opinions, with the two members of the committee favoring a more unorthodox and arguably unlawful approach. The Royal Fathers did not take any action to replace the two members who were advocating for this approach, nor did they explicitly instruct them to follow the constitutional process. Instead, the outcome of their meeting on January 15, 2025, was the decision to postpone the election until February, which further complicated matters.
In the midst of these negotiations and disagreements, another individual, Emma Baggy, the nephew of Mr. Festus Ifeji, emerged and proposed that the election be postponed indefinitely. This proposal appeared to have been indirectly supported by the two Igwes, casting further doubt on the integrity of the process and suggesting that there may have been ulterior motives at play—motives that remained unknown to the general public and outsiders. This raised suspicions about the true intentions behind the push to delay the election.
In response to these developments, a group of peace-loving individuals, committed to upholding justice and truth, vehemently opposed the postponement and insisted that the election should proceed as originally scheduled for December 31, 2024. They pointed out that the date had been fixed by the PG emeritus, Alex Okeke, and had been affirmed by both Royal Fathers and the respective autonomous PGs. These individuals stood firm in their belief that the election must proceed according to the constitutional provisions that had been set in place.
Despite these objections, the meeting scheduled for December 30, 2024, which was supposed to be a stakeholders' meeting to discuss the election, did not prevent the election from taking place. On December 31, 2024, the election was conducted in full compliance with the MCU constitution, despite the absence of the two electoral committee members who had failed to show up. The election was held at the venue specified in the constitution, and the committee members had been empowered to oversee it.
The election proceeded, and two candidates contested for the position: Nnamdi Okolo and Barrister TT Nzeh. Barrister Nzeh won by a landslide, receiving 81 votes, while Okolo garnered only 10 votes. Barrister Nzeh was officially declared the winner and subsequently sworn in.
In a bid to resolve the discord that had arisen during the electoral process, the Royal Fathers appointed a new committee, led by Barrister Ohanta, to address the disputes. However, the entire process was marred by illegality, as the committee’s actions did not align with the established constitutional guidelines. Despite being dubbed “Alternative Dispute Resolution,” the decisions made were not in accordance with the MCU constitution, leading to further confusion and unrest.
The Royal Fathers, under pressure from various sources, convened another meeting on January 11, 2025, where they declared that the election held on December 31, 2024, was a “sham” and constituted an Interim MCU PG, Chukwuma Obidinanwa, who was appointed illegally, as his appointment was not in line with the MCU constitution.
The primary culprits in this ongoing debacle are the two members of the electoral committee, Gerald Ilechukwu and Papa T Onyimba. Their actions have been responsible for sowing discord and division within Mgbidi, and their decisions have led to the ongoing conflict and controversy. Had they adhered to the legal procedures set forth by the MCU constitution, the election would have proceeded smoothly, and Mgbidi would not have been plagued by these divisive issues. Their betrayal of the trust placed in them by the people of Mgbidi will not be forgotten, and posterity will forever remember their role in undermining the democratic process in Mgbidi.
This is where the first phase of this narrative concludes, and I will continue with the second phase, where I will outline the roles of each individual involved and their impact on the effort to make Mgbidi a better place for all its citizens.
