The Chairman Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria Abia State Council Comrade Okoro Ogbonnaya, has said that he is the legitimate Chairman of the Union and not Comrade Desire Adindu who has been parading himself in the media as the Union Chairman.
Speaking in an interview with AFNews, Comrade Okoro explained that it all began on the 17th of October 2019, when the entire Medical and Health Workers Union Nigeria across the country had its conference but that of Abia State was postponed indefinitely by the government of Abia State with the excuse that they were indication that they will be trouble, saying that such was not true.
Comrade Okoro went further to narrate that before the election for a new tenure was planned, a vote of confidence had been passed on him and his EXCO by the state Executives of their Union to complete their second tenure, adding that one week before the election, one Comrade Desire Adindu suddenly came out and indicated his interest to run for the Chairmanship position of the Union.
Based on the decision which was earlier taken, he was advised not to contest which he refused and boasted that he has the backing of the state government. Comrade Adindu was allowed to go about his campaign after the state government suspended the election, he later informed the State NLC Chairman Comrade Uchenna Obigwe that he was done with his campaign and ready for the election.
According to him, election was fixed for 10th December 2019 after Comrade Obigwe had informed the National body of the election.
He revealed that immediately the election was fixed for 10th December, their union members and executives came under pressure, victimization of all kind.
“Executive Secretary of Abia State Primary Health Care Development Agency invited some of our members in his office and pressured them” he said.
The MHWUN Chairman further alleged that before the election was held on December 10th 2019 , their members where invited to Emeka Omerua’s building along Factory Road Umuahia were Mr. John Nwangborogwu pressured them to vote for Adindu and even induced them.
After the meeting with Nwagborogwu, they all converged at Eastern Comfort Hotel for the election with DSS, Police, the Union executives from south east state all present to observe the election.
“During the election, i scored 91 votes, while Comrade Desire Adindu scored 57 votes. I took my oat of office immediately after the election results was declared and also gave my victory speech”.
Comrade Okoro Ogbonnaya said he was surprised few days later, Desire Adindu rushed to Magic FM to declare himself winner of the said election, while just yesterday (Friday 13th, 2019), he did same at BCA Umuahia, thereby deceiving the public.
He said he has sent message across to their National body, the DSS and the Commissioner of Police Abia State over the matter, insisting that he was duly elected.
Comrade Okoro called on Governor Okezie Ikpeazu to intervene immediately and stop people from using his name to destroy Unions in Abia State.
When AFNews contacted Comrade Chinedu Obodo the returning officer of the said election, he maintained that the election was won by Comrade Okoro Ogbonnaya with 91 votes and Adindu 57 votes.
Comrade Chinedu regretted what is happening in Abia State and made it clear that Adindu did not protest the election result at anytime and that both candidate agents signed the result sheet.
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