*Seeks Gov Mbah’s urgent intervention
A human rights group, Civil Rights Realisation and Advancement Network (CRRAN), has frowned at the increasing disruptions of elections of traditional rulers in various Communities in Enugu State recently, calling on Governor Peter Mbah to intervene and arrest the ugly trend.
They noted that what has been happening in various communities have led to unnecessary conflicts and have twarted the wishes of the people for political interest.
“This development
calls for concern in the interest of peace in the state.
“It points to lack of transparency and lack of the will to uphold the Rule of the Law by the Supervising Ministry hence, the rise in complaints letters we received from residents of various affected communities in the state”
The organization in a letter addressed to Governor Mbah, signed by its president, Olu Omotayo Esq., and made available to newsmen on Monday, condemned the trend in all it’s entirety.
It harped on the need for the supervising Ministry in charge of Rural Development and Chieftaincy Matters, charged with supervising such elections in the state, to always make justice, transparency, honesty, accountability, and rule of laws it’s watch word.
The group cited example with a recent violent disruption of the election of Igwe of Ozom Community in Aguobu Owa, Ezeagu Local Government Areas on the 3rd day of October 2026
According to the letter, “the increasing conflicts and disruptions of elections of Traditional rulers of various communities in Enugu State in recent past calls for concern in the interest of peace in the state.
“The situation, point to lack of transparency and lack of the will to uphold the Rule of the Law on the Supervising Ministry hence the rise in complaints letters we received from residents of various affected communities in the state”
It added that “the story from the stakeholders and the residents of various communities involved, point accusing fingers on the Ministry and officials charged with the responsibilities of ensuring conduct of peaceful and transparent election of the candidates vying for the position of Igwe in their respective communities.
“Ozom Community in Aguobu Owa, for instance, is the latest community to experience violent disruption of the election process in their bid to elect a new traditional ruler on the 3rd October 2026”
“The story of the aggrieved members of the community is similar to earlier complaints of other communities like Ozom Mgbagbu-Owa Autonomous Community in the same Ezeagu LGA, which earlier complained through our office to you, of actions and inactions of officials of the Ministry of Rural Development and Chieftaincy Affairs, who are always not ready to follow due process in the supervision and conduct of the election.
“In the instant case of Ozom Community, Aguobu Owa; the residents gave a background of the events of the pre and post disruption of the election process in the community thus:
That there was a Conciliatory Meeting on 30th September, 2026: That Conciliatory meeting was convened at the instance of Commissioner for Chieftaincy Affairs.
“That it was unequivocally agreed by all parties that the election must proceed on the date earlier scheduled and announced by the Caretaker Committee Chairman, Dr. Kevin Nwachukwu.
“That the Caretaker Committee Chairman Dr. Kevin Nwachukwu further issued a follow-up directive/message on Friday, 2nd October, 2026, admonishing the entire Ozom community to remain law-abiding, orderly, and cooperative to ensure a peaceful, transparent, and credible exercise.The community complied and turned out peacefully, fully prepared to exercise their civic right to elect their leader.
“The Claimed Sabotage and Attempted Imposition on 3rd October, 2026 the Community stated that Contrary to the above resolutions reached with Commissioner for Chieftaincy Affairs in his office and the lawful arrangements made by the Caretaker Committee: a team led by Mr. Clinton Uzoh was invited solely to outline and administer the logistical modalities for the conduct of voting.
“That instead of carrying out this mandate, Mr. Clinton Uzoh and his cohorts unilaterally attempted to alter the process by reading a prepared text designed to fraudulently impose a pre-selected candidate on the community without opening the floor for voting.
“That recognizing this blatant disenfranchisement and subversion of justice, the law-abiding community raised immediate objections and prevented the unauthorized declaration from being executed.
“The majority of the members of the community maintained that this calculated attempt not only breaches traditional and constitutional processes but also constitutes a direct defiance of the peaceful path brokered by the office of the Commissioner for Chieftaincy Affairs.
“That the Ozom community Concerned Citizens bored all the payments to the Ministry, as well as the entire arrangements of a peaceful election on behalf of the community.
“The Community further demands that to avert an imminent breach of peace, breakdown of law and order, and to preserve the sacred customs and collective will of Ozom community, that your Excellency as the Chief Security of the State nullify and set aside any unauthorized declaration, statement, or purported outcome orchestrated by Mr. Clinton Uzoh and his group”
The natives therefore through the organization urged the Governor to order a transparent and credible election, where the sovereign will of Ndi Ozom is allowed to prevail through a proper, open voting process under the direct supervision of the Ministry of Chieftaincy Affairs and recognized community leadership.
“Declare and uphold only the authentic choice that emerges freely through the recognize electoral guidelines and customs of Ozom people.
The NGO added: “This matter brings to fore the need for transparency and accountability in governance. We hereby reinstate that the hallmark of democracy is respect for the Rule of law Accountability and Transparency in Governance.
“The government must at all times be accountable to the citizens. There is video evidence online of the events that happened in Ozom Aguobu Owa, which clearly showed the disapproval of the majority of residents for the attempted imposition of a candidate on the community.
“One of such videos is on the compact disc attached on this letter. We demand in an unequivocal terms that the constitution of the people of Ozom Community Aguobu Owa, be upheld.
“The will of the people, their constitution and the decision made at the meeting presided over by the Hon. Commissioner for Chieftaincy Affairs on the 30th September 2026, should be uphold and respected”.
