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By Madu Obi
After 10 years of feud, Azia community in Ihiala local government area of Anambra State has finally elected a new traditional ruler.
The newly elected monarch, Chief Francis Chikezie got a total number of 380 votes to defeat Chief Felix Ifeanyimuo who polled 273 votes, while Chief Azu Arinze who got 168 votes The fourth person, Chief Francis Okoye secured 73 votes.
The four candidates are from Umundiokpala village whose turn it is to produce the next king.
The winner would be presented to the entire Azia community in a yet to be announced date based on the constitution of the town.
When the results were announced, the community was thrown into spontaneous jubilation.
Chairman of the electoral committee, Ohachosim Celestine Ikom, who is of Department of Accountancy, Nnamdi Azikiwe University (NAU) Awka thanked all the contestants for their peaceful disposition before, during and after the election.
According to him, the election was a manifestation of the diligent and transparent approach of the electoral committee.
"All the contenders are qualified to contest for the throne, based on the 1976 Azia constitution, we cannot screen anyone of them out, that is why the village whose turn it is to produce the next king had to do the election and present the winner to the entire community.
"The government actually ordered the election to elect the most popular person among the royal aspirants and I say with all satisfaction that Umundiokpala village has spoken, the election was free and fair, I am an Accountant and accountability was our watchword all through the process from the beginning to the end," he said.
The President General (PG) of Azia, Dr Nwabueze Tonna thanked the people of Umundiokpala village for their peaceful disposition through out the election process noting that the ultimate winner of the election is Azia community.
Also speaking, the Episcopal Vicar of Ozubulu region of the Catholic Diocese of Nnewi, Very Rev Fr Hygi Aghulor, who hails from Azia, commended the peaceful conduct of the election which according to him was highly organized and superb.
"The electoral committee performed excellently, the process was so transparent, if Nigeria elections are conducted in this way, nobody will be complaining, as you can see nobody is agitated.
"The agents of the persons who did not make it voluntarily and willingly signed the result forms because it was evident, from the accreditation that started yesterday, people filed on the line peacefully, and all through the election process today, there was neither violence nor acrimony, it's a positive development for Azia.
"You can see people singing, dancing and rejoicing, you don't see them talking down about anybody. This phase has ended, the next phase is getting people together to move Azia forward, we don't have another place we can call our own," Fr Aghaulor said..
The exercise was observed by officials of the Anambra State, Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters.
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