March 22, (THEWILL) — The Traditional Ruler of Umuduruegwelle autonomous community in Ehime Mbano Local Government Area of Imo State, His Royal Majesty, Eze Dan Chima Emereonye, and Hon. Eddy Onyeocha, the Councillor representing Umueze 2/Umueleke Ward and the Deputy Legislative leader in Ehime Mbano Council, had sued for peace and tranquillity in the agrarian and commercially viable area following the suspension of their youth election.
They made the call while addressing the youths of the area after the suspension of the community’s youth election by the Electoral Committee, with support from the stakeholders of the community.
The leaders said the Electoral Committee acted wisely in suspending the youth election, which was to be held on Saturday, March 21, 2026, at Umuze II Secondary School, till further notice in the interest of peace, security and orderliness.
Eze Emereonye pointed out that some of the issues that gave rise to the suspension of the youth election by the Electoral Committee were the importation of mercenaries from neighbouring villages, underage children, married women who are above the legal age, invasion of the election arena by persons with branded t-shirts and caps and money inducement by some suspected desperate contestants.
The monarch added that option A4, which some of the contestants raised to be adopted in the conduct of the youth election, was not in tandem with the Constitution that guides electoral activities, which he said was handed over to the Electoral Committee to operate with, noting that the Open-Secret Ballot is what the Constitution recommended for.
“We have never supported anything that can undermine peace in the community. Hence, I and the Town Union and other leaders align with the suspension of the youth election by the Electoral Committee”, Eze Emereonye said.
Onyeocha, an observer of the election from the government, said the electoral committee took a positive step in suspending the election to avoid chaos in the area.
Onyeocha, who has been effectively representing Umueze 2/Umueleke Ward, called on the youth to always abide by the established rules of the community to go about the election peacefully anytime it would be held in the interest of peace.
Speaking to journalists earlier, the electoral committee chairman, Prince Tony Anugom, explained that the youth election was suspended in order to ensure free, fair, successful and peaceful election, as well as avoid undermining of peace therein.
Anugom said the Electoral Committee was committed to conduct transparent election, hence it suspended the election till further notice in agreement with the leaders of the community, who he described as peaceful, loving and development-driven.
