By Martin Nwoko
History was made on Saturday, January 8, 2022 as the people of Owuahia Eziudo Autonomous Community in Ezinihitte Mbaise local government area of Imo State came out in their numbers at Eziudo Town School to elect a new monarch who will succeed their foremost revered traditional ruler, HRH Eze Desmond Ogugua who passed on two years ago.
The election which was keenly contested by four aspirants namely: Chief Paul Iheme Ihuoma, Chief Ihekoronye, Chief Dr. John Epeagba and Chief Wise Ibeji was conducted in a peaceful manner under the watch of security men and other observers who came to monitor the exercise.
At the commencement of the election, each of the seven villages that make up Owuahia Eziudo Autonomous Community namely: Umuagwu, Umuezeaku, Umulolo, Ezihu, Umunebia, Ikenga and Umuchekwa took their turns to vote for the candidate of their choice.
At the conclusion of the voting process, the electoral committee organizing the election announced that a total of 1201 votes were cast and Chief Paul Iheme Ihuoma scored 42 votes , Chief Ihekoronye scored 109 votes, Chief Wise Ibeji scored 432 votes while Chief Dr. John Epeagba scored 568 votes while 49 votes were void.
The candidate with the highest number of votes, Chief Dr. John Epeagba who scored 568 votes was declared winner of the election.
Speaking shortly after the exercise, the Regent of the community Chief David Echendu stated that the voting process went the way the community wanted without any form of rancor or acrimony.
He urged the new Eze – elect to be transparent in all he does and also ensure that quality development especially youth development and empowerment takes the center stage of his reign as the king Monarch of Owuahia Eziudo Autonomous Community.
In his speech at the conclusion of the voting process, Chairman of the Electoral Committee, Chief Nnamdi Onwubiko expressed gratitude to all the candidates, the youths and the entire people of Owuahia Eziudo Autonomous Community for their support and contribution towards making the election process peaceful, successful and hitch free the voting process.
In their separate speeches, the three other contestants who lost the election applauded the exercise assuring that they will join hands with the newly elected Eze to move their community forward.
Reacting to his emergence as the Eze-Elect of Owuahia Eziudo Autonomous Community, Chief Dr. John Epeagba thanked his people for their votes, he thereby assured that he will carry everybody along during his reign to ensure that their community moves forward.
Speaking on behalf of Owuahia Eziudo in Diaspora Organization, Hon. Cllr. Justice Jolly Amaechi who resides in USA, congratulated the entire Owuahia Eziudo Autonomous Community for conducting a peaceful and fair election to elect their new monarch.
Congratulating the new Eze Elect, Chief Dr. John Epeagba for his well deserved victory, Hon. Amaechi also urged other contestants who participated at the exercise to accept the result of the election in good faith and as well join hands with the newly elected traditional ruler to move Owuahia Eziudo Autonomous Community forward for peace, unity and development of the entire community.
