By Phil Okose Onitsha

A mild drama played out weekend at the Godwin Achebe mini stadium, Fegge Onitsha, Anambra state, venue of the election of Onitsha International Electronics Dealers to elect their executives as one of the contestants, Hon. Emmanuel Ibeh, reportedly slumped.

It was gathered that he slumped after making several frantic efforts to leave the venue of the election on observing that he would not win the election but was refused leaving the venue by security operatives for fear that he would cause trouble.

He was said to be on the ground for about two hours after which the Commissioner for Trade, Commerce, Markets and Wealth Creation, Hon Christian Madubuko, invited a medical doctor who after examining him, was driven away in a security patrol pick-up vehicle probably to hospital while the election commenced in earnest.

At the end of the election the incumbent President of the market, Mr. Izuchukwu Okoye, emerged winner with 520 votes against Ibeh who had five votes while the incumbent Secretary General, Comrade Damian Ogudike, was reelected having polled 221 votes against his arch rival, Uzunagbu Pascal who got 24 votes.

Others were, Vice Chairman-Chukwubuike Kama Calistus 381 votes against Okoye Charles Chudubem who scored 94 votes, First Vice President -Ifeacho Igwebuike Patrick won with 289 votes against Okoye Nwabufor Frank and Okonkwo Samuel who scored 20 and 11 votes, respectively.

Also, Okeke Chinedum Michael got 256 votes to emerge as treasurer against Ogbonna Henry Onyema who scored 224 votes. Others were, Eze Ambros Ifeanyi who got 187 votes to emerge the Financial secretary against Onuigbo Obiora that had 59 votes.

Oda S. Ikenna emerged as assistant secretary with 144 votes against Njoku Chinedu who scored 44 votes and Okay Anthony Uzim who got nine votes; Mr. Innocent Emenari emerged unopposed as assistant financial secretary while Okeke Chukwudi was elected as the director of social.

Speaking, the Returning Officer, Mr. Ikenna Ida, commended the traders for conducting themselves peacefully during the election.

In his post-election speech, the President of the Market, Okoye, pledged to carry everybody along, stating that there is no victor no vanquished and commended the commissioner and the President General of Anambra Markets Amalgamated Traders Association (AMATAS), Chief Okwudili Ezenwankwo, for the success of the election.

He paid glowing tribute to the traders for finding him worthy to serve them again, stating that he would not let them down as he would work with the state government for the betterment of the traders.

Swearing in the elected executives, the commissioner reiterated that corrupt leaders who embezzle government fund must be fished out to cough out the money.

He urged the market executive not to embezzle government money as they pilot the affairs of the market

Describing the candidate who allegedly slumped before the conduct of the election as deceitful, he said, you cannot deceive the people all the time.

“We must stamp out corruption, I decided to be here today (Saturday) to witness this election. Anywhere, there will be election in markets in the state I must be there.

“No more anybody imposing candidates on the traders, no more imposition of candidates unless need be”.

On the court injunction allegedly served on him to stop the conduct of the election by Ibeh, the commissioner said that he was hearing it for the first time from newsmen, adding that there was nothing like that.

“You can’t manufacture court injunction in the field, we are not aware. This confirmed that some people who do not want progress in the market are those who are doing this thing.

“You cannot deceive the people all the time. We would have conducted this election in the past, there was trouble and it was cancelled. This is the third time and the same thing kept repeating itself. Today, I stood my ground that it will no longer happen,” he said.

Contributing, the AMATAS President General, Chief Ezenwankwo, described Ibeh’s collapse as drama and deceit to stop the election, urging him to allow peace reign by allowing the people to choose their leader.

“I believed that what happened here today was a complete drama, one person cannot hold the traders at the electronics market to ransom, democracy has come to stay in this market. The election was free, fair and credible,” he stated.

https://orientdailynews.com.ng/politics/drama-onitsha-market-presidential-candidate/

lalasticlala seun mynd44