By Onuchukwu Hamilton
The Udogadi Okporo Autonomous Community in Orlu LGA, of Imo State has on the 13th day of April, conducted its Town Union elections which has now produced, Hon Nwaigwe Raymond Odinaka as the new Town Union President General, while Mr. Nwaokike Chukwudi Ebuka Jude emerged as Secretary General, Mr. Ikeru as PRO, Nze Arinze Okolie Treasurer and Mr. Chido takes the office of the Financial Secretary.
The referred Udogadi Town Union election was conducted inside the Okporo Technical College Sports Field and it was witnessed by the Orlu Local Government Council Chairman, Pastor Chris Mbarie , some Imo based Journalists, the election monitors from the Local Government Council, the Town Union community election observers and the candidates’ agents.
The final election which was by a secret ballot , commenced by 8am with a village to village accreditation of voters as to avoid the issue of hired machineries. It was reportedly settled that every electorate must be identified by his village heads as bonafide and registered member before he could be allowed to vote. This voting processes and the predominance of armed security officers deployed at the event by the Orlu Local Government Executive Chairman, subsumed every form of upheaval or crisis. The people commendably comported themselves and obediently exercised their franchise.
At the end of the voting exercise that peacefully consumed more than seven hours, the election committee recorded 22 void votes, while the winner Hon. Odinaka Nwaigwe secured an overwhelming total of 321 votes to beat his closest rival, Apostle Joshua who scored 146 votes.
This kind of landslide victory featured an unprecedented jubilation among the people especially the diaspora members of Udogadi Okporo, that had to sacrificed their schedules and came back for the election.
In his reaction and maiden address, the newly elected president General, Hon. Nwaigwe embraced his opponent and described his victory as a victory for all and sundry . He boldly stated that he will never disappoint the community as he had earlier promised to sustain the infrastructural projects and other development visions that spurred his interest to contest and win the election. “That the new Udogadi of his dream has finally arrived, to guarantee the required community development, grassroots security, ensure socio- cultural cohesion, conflict resolution and assist the Orlu Local Government Council in linking to the community with the state government.
Fielding questions from journalists at the polling center, the Orlu Local Government Council Chairman, pastor Mbarie Chris, hinted that the election processes and it’s winners’ declaration which was not opposed by anybody, is in strict compliance with the relevant provisions of the Imo State laws. He appealed for love and unity among interest parties .
