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By Madu Obi
Hundreds of women of Umueje Community in Ayamelum local government area of Anambra State have protested alleged imposition of a leader on them, insisting that the said woman was not their member.
The women, who staged the protest at the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare, accused some powerful people in their community of favouring the woman, whose name was given as Maria Machi and who they claimed, is not a member of the women wing of Anambra State Association of Town Unions, ASATU.
Some of the placards displayed by the women read: "Maria cannot read or write, she should be disqualified from contesting election"; "Maria is not a registered member of Umueje ASATU women wing"; and "Commissioner please save us from the hands of certain individuals".
Speaking on behalf of the protesters, the chairperson, Executive Council Committee of Umueje Improvement Union, Women Wing, Augustina Obiora said one Anthonia Edogo remained their preferred leader, following her popular acceptance in a recently conducted election.
She, however, admitted that the said election was inconclusive. She demanded that Machi should not be allowed to participate in any other election in the community, insisting that anything to the contrary would amount to gross violation of the constitution of the association.
She said: "On August 15, 2023, we had community election to produce new woman leader in which Mrs Anthonia Edogo declared interest. Later, another woman, Maria Machi also came out to contest."
"But our people said no because she's not a member of ASATU women wing. Besides, she doesn't know how to write her name properly, yet her younger brother was pushing her and saying that she has right to contest."
"We later allowed her. But immediately she discovered that she was losing in the election, she scattered the ballot box and was about to go physical, but we intervened."
"A week later, we came to the Ministry to know the position on the matter, but were told that the Commissioner was yet to respond. We were later told that she had been briefed on what transpired on the election day."
"We were later told the commissioner said the woman was disqualified since she disrupted the election and she asked us to come for inauguration."
"After the inauguration, when some of the executive members came to appreciate the Commissioner, we were taken aback when she told us that things had changed, and that we should prepare for another election."
"Our people insisted that we don't want another election and the Commissioner later said a caretaker will be put in place pending the election which she fixed for Friday."
"We're here to tell the Commissioner that if another election must take place, Maria will not participate because she's not qualified as any attempt to allow her will amount to gross violation of our constitution."
"As we speak, our community is boiling. The woman who is influential is busy sharing money and lobbying members, all in a bid to impose herself on us."
Responding, Commissioner for Ministry of Women Affairs, Ify Obinabo who spoke through an official in the ministry, Obiora Onunkwo commended the protesters for their peaceful conduct, assuring that their grievances would be addressed.
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