A contestant in the recent election for President-General of Ohaneze Ndi-Igbo worldwide, Valentine Oparaocha, is calling for a review of the election results to ensure fairness and justice.
Arewa PUNCH reported that Oparaocha’s request comes after the passing of Dr. George Obiazor and Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, the last two individuals to hold the prestigious position within the Igbo socio-cultural group.
Both former Presidents General of the organization had passed away, leaving the seat vacant once again.
Oparaocha, a security expert, expressed concerns to Arewa PUNCH that he felt he had been unfairly denied the opportunity to run for the position he believed should have been rightfully his in the election process.
Claiming to have come in second place in the contest, Oparaocha recalled that the late Obiazor Obiozor was disqualified due to age, while Iwuanyanwu was not even a contestant.
He pointed out that despite Obiazor being deemed eligible to run and ultimately declared President, Iwuanyanwu, who was not even part of the election, was handed leadership after Obiozor’s passing, for reasons unknown.
Oparaocha, a retired security professional, maintained that he had secured the second position in the election despite facing obstacles and irregularities during the electoral process.
He declared his readiness to pursue and reclaim what he referred to as his “stolen mandate.”
In a letter of protest addressed to the Ohaneze Ndi-Igbo Electoral Committee in Enugu, titled “Petition for Review of 2021 President-General Election and Reclamation of Mandate,” Oparaocha expressed his belief that he was the rightful winner of the election.
He argued that it was still Imo State’s turn to occupy the position, as the state’s tenure had not yet expired. He viewed it as an honor for himself and Imo State if he were allowed to complete the term in office.
Delving deeper into the matter, he asserted, “I came in second place in that contest. The former president, the late Prof. George Obiozor, was disqualified due to age, yet he was permitted to run and eventually appointed President. Furthermore, the late Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu never participated in the election but was placed at the helm of Ohaneze Ndi-Igbo following Obiozor’s demise.”
“I secured the second position despite facing discouragement and encountering irregularities overseen by those handling the electoral process. I am prepared to fight for my rights and reclaim my supposed stolen victory,” Oparaocha affirmed.
Oparaocha clarified that he, Obiozor, and another contestant had all gone through the proper election procedures after paying a fee of N500,000 each for the candidacy forms. Although he was dissatisfied, he maintained peace when Iwuanyanwu was announced as Obiozor’s successor.
The petitioner emphasized that with the position now vacant and time remaining for an Imo State native to step in, he is still interested in and prepared to reclaim his lost opportunity, having completed all the necessary election procedures and securing the second spot in the competition.
He concluded, “The late Iwuanyanwu neither purchased a form nor participated in the electoral process, yet he was appointed President-General of Ohaneze Ndi-Igbo without complying with the organization’s constitution. It is still Imo State’s turn to hold the position, and it would be an esteemed privilege for both myself and Imo State if I were given the chance to lead the group and fulfill the rest of the state’s tenure.
“In light of the electoral discrepancies and the alleged mandate theft, I am seeking to reclaim what is rightfully mine, especially now that the position is once again vacant and Imo State’s tenure has not expired yet. Even though the previous officeholder has not had their final rites, there should not be a leadership vacuum in the apex Igbo organization,” stated Oparaocha.