The Paramount Ruler of Rumukurushi, Eze Sir. Simeon C. Wokoma (JP), Eze Ohia Rumuorianwo XI and the Chairman of Rumukurushi Community Development Committee (CDC) election committee, Bob Ozogbuda have disagreed over the reasons for the conduct of the election which was cancelled by the chairman.
The election was conducted on Saturday, July 28, 2012, at the State Primary School premises, with option A4 system which made voters to line up behind their candidates.
However, Mr. Bob Ozugbuda, the electoral chairman, refused to count the votes, alleging that he was intimidated.
“I think, I have been intimidated by the traditional rulers and their Ejowos. Out of five aspirants, only two came out to show their seriousness in this election. The other three, I don’t know what happened to them,” Mr. Ozugbuda stated.
He further said that he and his members would go back to the drawing board to see what they could do about the election.
When pressmen demanded to know how he was intimidated, he turned rude and said, “intimidation is intimidation and that is all.”
The paramount ruler, Eze Wokoma, expressed shock and regret over the election chairman’s action.
He said the chairman was trusted and that was why he was given the position to conduct the election and that they never knew that he could display such ignorance.
“It was unreasonable for him to say that traditional rulers intimidated him as such he could not deliver the election,” Eze Wkoma told newsmen shortly after the election, adding that every free hand was given to him but he failed to deliver.
Trouble was averted as armed policemen were quickly invited when a young man received a call that the Eze’s palace would be attacked and that he should leave the place.
The Highness immediately asked for assistance of some media men who were still around to help him invite the presence of security and they invited armed policemen who came and took over the security of the palace.
Speaking to the press, Barr. Lloyd Otuanye, a delegate, suspected that the chairman might be having an interest which he needed to protect.
Otuanye who is a lawyer denied the alleged intimidation by the traditional rulers, stating that it should have been observed as everyone watched the whole activities.
He said if two or three candidates declined, that should not have made the chairman to cancel the election, adding that the election should have gone on among those who were ready.
However, despite the cancellation, Kingsley E. Onuowa, one of the contestants, was lifted up by his supporters in jubilation with songs of victory, as people started to depart.
Talking to media men Mr. Onuowa said during the line up, his line was counted by people and he had 68 votes against his opponent who scored 48 and that was why the community has adopted him as CDC chairman of the community.###
Mene Gbarabe
