Umuawa Boycotts Ohuhu Welfare Union Election, Threatens Lawsuit Over Reinstated Candidate

The people of Umuawa (Alaocha na Alaike) have announced a total boycott of the purported Ohuhu Welfare Union (OWU) election scheduled for Saturday, 16th May, 2026, warning that they will challenge in court any attempt to reinstate a candidate they described as “duly disqualified.”

This was part of the resolutions reached during a meeting of Umuawa Zone held on Thursday, 14th May, 2026, where leaders and stakeholders from the six villages of Umuawa condemned what they termed violations of the Ohuhu Welfare Union Constitution ahead of the election.

In a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting, the community also called for the postponement of the election for at least three weeks to mourn the late Chairman of the OWU Caretaker Committee, Dr. Emeka Okengwu, who died on 9th May, 2026 while serving the clan.

The communiqué alleged that the Secretary of the current OWU Caretaker Committee unlawfully issued a fresh nomination form to one of the aspirants, Ekejiuba Ekpo, despite the closure of nomination processes as stipulated in the electoral guidelines.

According to the group, the nomination form was also improperly endorsed by HRM Eze Charles Ngwuli instead of the Chairman or President-General of the aspirant’s village as required under Section 15(d)(iv) of the OWU Constitution.

Umuawa leaders maintained that Ekejiuba Ekpo had earlier been disqualified by the first Caretaker Committee led by Barr. Hez Nwokocha for failing to meet constitutional requirements, a decision they said was reaffirmed by the subsequent Caretaker Committee headed by the late Dr. Emeka Okengwu.

The communiqué accused Ndi-Eze Ohuhu, under the leadership of Eze Charles Ngwuli, of attempting to override constitutional provisions by reinstating a candidate previously disqualified by two separate caretaker committees.

“Ndi-Umuawa therefore warns that it will not participate in any election where Ekejiuba Ekpo, who remains duly disqualified, appears on the ballot,” the communiqué stated.

The community further declared that it had resolved to seek legal redress against any effort to “legalize illegality” through the reinstatement of the candidate.

Consequently, all candidates and delegates from the six villages of Umuawa were directed not to participate in the election scheduled for Saturday.

The communiqué reaffirmed Umuawa’s commitment to “an Ohuhu governed by the rule of law and guided strictly by the Ohuhu Welfare Union Constitution.”

The communiqué was jointly signed by Hon. Chimex Uluocha Nelcinn, President-General of Umuawa-Alaocha; Hon. Chizaram Adindu, Youth President of Umuawa-Alaocha; Kingsley Benson Mbagwu Secretary-General; RHC Maduabuchi Nwaoha, President-General of Ogwara Na Nkaru; Chief Okechukwu Ogbonna, President-General of Umuyota-Alaocha;

Eld. Obi Ibegbu-, President -General, Umuezerola,  Maxwell Metuh Nwosu ,  Eld. Nnamdi Matthew, APG of Umuire; Hon. Chukwunenye Nwaubani, President-General of Umunakaru Alaike; Hon. Chilaka Chukwuemeka, Youth President of Umuawa Alaike; Barr. C.N. Ajunwa, Traditional Prime Minister of Nkwoachara Autonomous Community; Chukwudike Nwoko of Umuyota-Alaike; Nwokocha Obinna; Christian Ekwuribe; and Pst. Charles James.