Francis Nwifuru, the governor of Ebonyi State, intervened in the power struggle on Thursday between Mr. Emmanuel Ajah, the chairman of the Ivo LGA, and Mr. John Okorie, the chairman of the Amaeze community.
According to OBASANJO NEWS24, the conflict has split the community into two rival factions.
It was learned that Governor Nwifuru had called the two parties to a peace meeting through the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Mr. Igwe Uchenna, as well as other commissioners for Internal Security, Border Peace, and Conflict Resolution.
When Ajah announced that the Amaeze Development Union, ADU, would hold elections for new leadership on August 12, 2023, Okorie objected and insisted that the elections take place on August 26, 2023, as is purportedly required by the union’s constitution. This sparked a fight between the two men.
In contrast, the two factions have decided to hold the union’s election on August 26, 2023, as opposed to August 12, 2023, as had previously been indicated by the council chairman, Ajah, according to Governor Nwifuru, who briefed newsmen shortly after the meeting.
He states: “The state government invited the two factions led by the chairman of the Ivo LGA, Emmanuel Ajah, and the chairman of the ADU, John Okorie, along with their stakeholders, to resolve the disagreement they had regarding the date to hold the election for Amaeze Development Union. The election will now take place on August 8, 2023, as the groups have agreed,” he said.
The Amaeze Development Union, ADU, will be elected in the near future, and the council chairman of Ivo LGA, Emmanuel Ajah, promised to ensure that the election will be free, fair, credible, and devoid of acrimony and rancour when he talked to reporters shortly after the meeting.
“We applaud the governor for bringing calm back to Ivo LGA. The election will take place on August 26, 2023, as agreed. I have no interest in the election and will make sure that it is free, fair, and respected since I promised the people of Ivo complete peace. All will accept the winner, whoever it may be, he said.
The chairman of Amaeze Development Union, ADU, Mr. John Okorie, responded by saying: “I’m delighted that the election date difficulties have been settled since that is just. He was speaking through his brother, Mr. Gilbert Monday Okorie.
“Our people have been holding polls on the final Saturday in August, but Emmanuel Ajah, the chairman of the Ivo LGA, wanted to sabotage that procedure. We appreciate the administration for finding a solution.
