Ndokwa: Ken Okolugbo Led NNU 2020 Electoral Committee Resigns

By Nkechi Odumosor

All seems not to be well with the Ndokwa Nation, apex body, as the body that was setup by the High Chief Opone Led Ndokwa Neku Union, NNU to conduct the election of a new executive committee had called it quit, as all have tendered their resignation as members of the NNU 2020 Electoral Committee.

In a memo made available to Ndokwa Reporters, and signed by the Chairman, Sir Ken Okolugbo, and Secretary, Mr. Kris Uzoalu, pointed out that the reason the members decided to discontinue as members of the committee was as a fall out from the publication of the Caretaker Committee, headed by Dr. Tab Tambowei, who had begun another process of delegate registration as against the work of the electoral committee.

It could be recalled that the committee was constituted weeks before the Novel Coronavirus pandemic, and they decided to observe the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control protocols on fighting the covid-19 virus.

The statement noted that the committee members had since 10th October 2020, communicated with the immediate President General of the NNU, High Chief Johnson Opone on the decision to quit.

“We, the Committee Members of Ndokwa Neku Union, Election Committee, duly constituted and inaugurated by the outgone NNU EXCO led by Chief Johnson Opone on 18th March 2020, regretfully wish to bring to the notice of the entire Ndokwa Nation our decision to resign our membership which took effect from the 10th of October 2020.”

“This is as a result of the current publication by the Ndokwa Neku Union, Caretaker Committee in VANGUARD Newspaper, page 9 of 6th October 2020. We do not agree that an out dated constitution of 2013 will be relied upon to carry out this important process of transition to an elected body to steer the ship of Ndokwa Nation.”

“It is in the public domain that in 2014 & 2019 the constitution of NNU was reviewed and adopted by the general Assembly. We are also not comfortable with the Electoral register which will have list of the Delegates to vote in that ELECTION to be prepared on our behalf.”

“The integrity of any election begins with the VOTERS LIST. Our major reason for postponing that election was due to COVID 19 where the circumstances have become convenient to hold an election before now.”

“As a responsible Committee and having made wide consultations towards the release of our electoral process ab initio, we cannot align nor stake our integrity with an electoral arrangement that has usurped our core mandate and does not solicit the confidence of the electorates.”

They however pledged to serve in any capacity if called upon in the future.

“We will not hesitate to serve in future when called upon if the process is in the right direction and accepted by all.”

“We have since made our open letter of resignation available to High Chief Johnson Opone who consented fully with us as the actions of the CTC is not in line with the aims and objectives of why our committee was set up initially.”