It was moment of joy and jubilation in Owuahia/Okeudo Eziudo autonomous community as the people came out en-masse to elect their traditional ruler, Chief Dr. John Epeagba Onuoha from Ezihu village.
The election came two years after the demise of HRH, Eze, Des Ogugua in 2019.
The keenly contested election had the seven villages that make up the autonomous community coordinated, organized, eager to have a traditional ruler of their choice.
In the open-secret ballot voting system, the Eze-elect, Chief John Onuoha (Ezihu) polled total of 568 to defeat the other three contestants. Chief Wise Ibeji (Ikenga) scored 432, Chief Barr. Richard Ihekeronye (Umulolo) scored 109 while Chief Paul Ihuoma (Umuagwu) had total votes of 42. At the end of the counting, there was 49 void votes out of the 1201 votes cast.
The villages that make up Owuahia/Okeudo Eziudo autonomous community are Umuagwu, Umuezeaku, Umunebia, Ikenga,
Ezihu, Umulolo and
Umuchekwa
Shortly after the election, the winner and the three other contestants, having accepted the results, appreciated the planning committee, electoral committee, youths and the entire people of the autonomous community for their efforts and support in making sure that the election held successfully, adding that there’s need to work together for the development of autonomous community.
Speaking to newsmen after the election, the chairman of the electoral committee, Chief Alban Onwubiko applauded the contestants for comporting themselves in civil manner, especially that the contestants sat together during the election and accepted the results of the election.
Speaking to Journalists, the Eze-elect, Chief John Onuoha thanked the youths for allowing the election to hold peacefully, stressing that he is going to work with other contestants to move the community forward.
Continuing, the Eze-elect, Chief Dr. Onuoha noted that of all the contestants, God chose one person especially that they all accepted the results. We must reform our health system, we must reform our security system, stressing that water will be restored at the health center.
“We are going to educate our youths because they are the future of tomorrow”. He hinted that the process of the election started since January 2021 when they gathered at Eke Mbara Ikoro where they declared that anybody who is interested in the election can run. He appreciated the electoral committee for their efforts in conducting a peaceful election and urged aggrieved persons to sheath their swords and come together for the collective development of the community.
