Chief Ikechukwu Orunta 


By Tony Icheku 


While the Labour Party, LP-led administration of Abia State Governor Alex Otti dances  round in circles whether to hold the Local Government Council election or not, aspirants who trust in the certainty of the Supreme Court judgement granting autonomy to the LGAs are already warming up for the election.


In the Ikwuano LG LP where three chairmanship aspirants could be identified so far, the party is already in convulsions. The story is similar  in all the 17 LGAs of the State. Indeed in LP circles, the most used word is 'endorsement', and abuse of the word could mean trouble for over ambitious party stalwarts 


Comrade Osinachi Nwaka 

Endorsement is a word any of the sitting Caretaker Committee, CTC Chairperson or Mayor would love to hear if they want to continue as elected Executive Chairman. Their wish is for Gov Otti to award them automatic tickets and where the governor's body language is not pointing towards such possibility, some have resorted to manipulations and influence peddling to concoct some semblance of endorsement. But the die hard politicians in the party are insisting on primaries.


The assumption is that since it is going to be an election conducted by ABSIEC, any one given LP ticket is considered to have won even before the election.


But in Ikwuano LG, such assumption could be progressing in error, especially in view of the facts on ground that Ikwuano LP has no real machinery to win any election. 


Chief Innocent Eleogu 

The relics of PDP which dominated the LG in the past 24 years is still ever present as the PDP  Senator representing Abia Central Senatorial district, Senator Akobundu comes from the LG.


 In another part of the LG, the APC which holds power at the centre is very much in the picture, indeed if push comes to shove, the chances of LP winning the Chairmanship election is 50:50


Beyond the agitations for primaries, rises another argument concerning rotation of the seat amongst the four clans of Ikwuano. By convention, the LG chairmanship and House of Assembly seat rotates among the four clans of  Ariam-Usaka, Oloko, Ibere and Oboro 


Prince Ambrose Nwachukwu 

"It is definitely the turn of Ibere", says Mr Igwe Nnaemeka speaking at a radio programme 'The Platform' on Flo 94.9FM. He  argued that "...from 1999-2003; 2004-6, Ariam-Usaka took the first shot at the chairmanship with the late Chief K C Ugboajah serving two terms making a total of six years as elected chairman of the LG.


"Next was Ibere with Mr Stanley Ojigbo served from 2007-2009 as elected chairman.


"From 2016-2018, Oboro took its turn with Mrs Ngozi Orji serving as elected chair person.


"From 2020-2022, it was the turn of Oloko  with Chief Steve Mpamugo serving as the elected chairman.


"If we are to go by the Ikwuano charter of equity which has guaranteed peaceful rotation of political offices among the four sister clans of Ikwuano, it is definitely the turn of Ibere to produce the next elected chairman for Ikwuano ", he asserted. 


However taking a contrary position , Mr Push Uchenna Kalume proffers that it's Ariam-Usaka's turn. While  he agrees with the historical background provided by Nnaemeka he however argued that all the clans have taken their turns, and Ariam-Usaka should start again.


"Following the above pattern, and for the purpose of equity, fairness and continuity, all clans having had their turns, it is once again the turn of Ariam-Usaka to produce the next executive chairman of Ikwuano local government area.  Anything contrary to this is tantamount to capsizing the ship mid-sea. It means going back to our sad political past which was marred by anarchy, ill-blood, in-fighting and betrayals", he submitted 


However, Oboro clan with four wards out of the ten INEC Wards now  introduces  a new dimension into the argument.


"...in politics, you use you numerical strength to demand for the benefits of your people. Whatever that is worth sharing in Ikwuano should be done into 5 places. Oboro picks 2 whole others (with two wards each)  pick 1 each.


Oboro  have 4 wards and others 2 each. Politics is a game of Numbers and we need to ensure that the Governor or whomsoever is trying to joke with Ndi Oboro is made aware of that", says Mr Charles Adiezeh, a youths leader


Another Oboro voice lends support to his argument thus: "With the original 10 wards, Oboro  control 4, we are at advantage to always shop for one good ally from the other  three for a stable majority. Let no party lines deceive us again. Politics is a game of numbers. The giant has been asleep for too long. Okey Turner Iroegbu, a journalist argued.


But yet another revolutionary argument is gradually cropping up, to jettison the rotation system altogether, says the new school of thought.


Said the Aristotle of Ikwuano politics, Hon Philip Iroegbulam, Philip-D: "What was once seen as a stabilizing force is now viewed by some as a hindrance to progress. Critics argue that the rigid adherence to clan-based power rotation can stifle innovation, limit the pool of leadership talent, and perpetuate a system of patronage that prioritizes clan loyalty over meritocracy"


Philip-D speaks the mind of the army of youths who appear to be have been sidelined in the scheme of affairs.


The Supreme Court judgement granting autonomy to the LGAs brings government closer to the people and the youths are impatient to grab power now


According to Philip-D, the recent granting of autonomy to LGs  provides the LGs   with greater control over their resources, decision-making processes, and policy implementation. Autonomy is expected to empower local leaders to address the specific needs of their communities more effectively, without being constrained by external influences. 


All said and done, the forthcoming LG elections would not be politics as usual as the political consciousness of Ikwuano's populace with increased access to information, education, and political engagement are  more informed and assertive 


With this growing public awareness, the financial autonomy to LGs has been hailed by all and sundry and all eyes would be on the Executive Chairman to deliver democracy dividends  as citizens would definitely demand greater transparency, accountability, and inclusivity in the political process


The youths advocacy is therefore for a more open and competitive political environment where leadership is determined by competence and popular support rather than by clannish or political affiliation. 


From the LP, three chairmanship aspirants have emerged from the three clans of Ariam-Usaka - Chief Innocent Eleogu; Ibere - Comrade Osinachi Nwaka and Oboro - Chief Ikechukwu Nzeribe  Orunta


Chief Innocent Eleogu - Ariam-Usaka

Chief Innocent Eleogu, a businessman and Founder of Innocent Eleogu Foundation is running on the premise that it is the turn of Ariam-Usaka to produce the next chairman. So far he has in his support the two wards from the clan


Prince Ambrose Nwachukwu - Ariam-Usaka

Prince Ambrose Nwachukwu a business and former PDP chieftain is versed in Ikwuano's political terrain.

He has served as former CTC councillor and well connected in Ikwuano and Abia State political circle 


Comrade Osinachi Nwaka - Ibere

Comrade Osinachi Nwaka is also a businesman and facilitator of the New Era Foundation, NEF and he is the CTC Chairman with an  ambitious to return as Executive Chairman of the LG. And he is using all means as the sitting Mayor to get the factors in his favour. But he is not finding it easy as the LP machinery is still at the building stage and lacks a command structure. He is banking on his two wards in Ibere and gradually building bridges across the other clans


Chief Ikechukwu Orunta - Oboro

Chief Ikechukwu Orunta is also a businessman and a staunch party mobiliser in Oboro clan. He is the arrowhead of the sentiments where Oboro clan wants it's four clans to be taken into consideration in sharing of political position. 'It's equitable and just', says sources from his camp which says the four wards are in support of his ambition.


From the foregoing, Oloko appears to be the shopping ground and the lot falls on the House of Assembly member, Hon Boniface Isienyi to determine where the clan would pitch it's tent.