Dr Amb. Darlington Onuoha Kalu, the president of the Coalition of Business Groups and Associations of Nigeria (COBGAN), an apex-recognized body in Abia State for the promotion of the activities of the organized business body of Town Unions, has expressed dissatisfaction with the handling of the just concluded Abiriba Communal Improvement Union (ACIU) Aba branch election.
Onuoha said that the election was merged with irregularities, and corrupt process, being perpetuated by some leaders of ACIU whom he accused of failing to uphold democracy in a market-oriented place like Aba and fully indulging in election malpractices in favour of their preferred candidate in the presidential seat of ACIU Aba branch.
He said that as a citizen of Abiriba and a resident of Aba for more than thirty-eight years, his company Dar-Sento Organizations was incorporated in the year 1991 at 133 Market Road, Aba and that as a member of the ACIU Aba Branch, he has been contributing to the success of the union.
Onuoha however said that to his surprise, on the 5th of July, 2023, the election day his supporters of about five hundred MEMBERS who went to vote only discovered that his name and picture were not in the President Ballot Paper which he purchased the form, but the name surprisingly appeared in the Vice President Ballot Paper without my picture.
He said that even his son who is the youngest of the eligible voters of 18 years ON June 2023 was denied to vote, only at his appearance did they allow him to vote.
Onuoha said that all these happened when one Chief Kalu Nkobi who he alleged the authorities were rooting for was still with the complete money of ten thousand naira N10,000.00 he paid for the form till date.
Narrating his story in a letter addressed straight to ACIU Secretariate @ No 7 Factory Road Aba, Liaison Office: MSMEs Department and to the President ACIU Aba Branch, Chief Chidican, the Secretary, ACIU, Aba Branch, Elder Agwu Orji Boko and the Financial Secretary ACIU Aba Branch, Chief Kalu Nkobi in which he copied the Aba Area Command of the Nigerian Police Force and the Ministry of Justice Umuahia, Onuoha demands that they must not swear in any other person in the position of President ACIU Aba Branch expect himself, stressing that he won the election despite their alleged intrigues.
“I, Darlington Onuoha Kalu, do hereby demanding from you Chief Chidican, Chief Kalu Nkobi and Elder Agwu Orji Boko and the Electoral officers, Chief Egesiri Eze Azu, Chief Okuwa Agwo Ejemole, Chief Kalu Udeagha, etc.; that you should not SWEAR AND DECLARE any other person in the position of President ACIU Aba Branch expect my very self Dr Amb. Darlington Onuoha Kalu having 500 AND ABOVE of my supporters FIVE hundred (500) VOTES TO ANOTHER CANDIDATE ON THE PRESIDENTIAL SEAT by not putting my picture in the position that I have obtained the FORM and paid N10,000.00 (Ten Thousand Naira) for it.
“AND completed the form and submitted it accordingly rather you and your manipulating team only put my name as Vice President and still no picture and have my money as N10,000.00. And has no legal stand on the zoning arrangement that you have performed but only to prove your illegality to the constituted organization like ACIU of 1942 that needs absolute respect and recognition.
“That your failure of not announcing me as the President-Elect of ACIU Aba BRANCH will attract the full weight of the law to interpret the constitution of the ACIU 1942 & 1988 as amended where you ALL HAVE DERIVED your power in the activities of the constituted
institution like ACIU TO OPERATE OUTSIDE THE CONSTITUTION OF 1942 AND 1988 AS AMENDED.
“That you have failed to uphold democracy in a market-oriented place like Aba and fully indulge in election malpractices in favour of Your preferred candidate of your choice in the presidential seat of ACIU ABA BRANCH, meaning that there was a place to sabotage a candidate like me and other who might have been affected by the misconduct of you IN THE executive who have stayed in power illegally without making use of the constitution but subjecting the members with series of misleading activities and stayed in the power with using the Constitution.
“That within 24 hours of receiving this letter if I don’t receive a letter from you and your team ANNOUNCING that I, DR. AMB. DARLINGTON ONUOHA KALU the duly elected President of ACIU Aba Branch, of the election of 5th JULY 2023 I will forward this mail to Ministry of Justice, Abia State asking them to interpret the constitution of ACIU 1942 & 1988 as Amended or I will approach the Law Court for further CLARIFICATION OF THE ELECTION ON YOUR PURPORTED ZONING ARRANGEMENTS.”
In the letter dated 11th July 2023, Onuha narrated, “In the year 2009, I contested for the election of the ACIU Aba Branch for the position of President, alongside Chief Ndukwo Elezuo, Nnana Awo, and your very self Chief Chidican without paying for the nomination form it was free, and unfortunate you Elders of Abiriba did not allow the election to hold only return Chief Ndukwo Elezuo back with a resolution after he has delivered his valedictory speech. After his death, you Chief Chidican found yourself as the President and have ruled for 13 years without election and not abiding by the constitution of the Union, ACIU.
“That I bought the form and on purchase of the form, I was forced by Chief Kalu Nkobi to purchase the form for Vice President while I came to purchase for president, Chief Kalu Nkobi told me that it was zoned to AGBOJI Coinmunity ABIRIBA, I told him to provide EVIDENCE of the zoning which he never provides TILL THE ELECTION TIME.
“That I trickily collected the form and discovered that it never specified or indicated the position as Vice President and I completed it as for President and completed the money to make it N10,000.00 (Ten Thousand Naira) and the evidence is available including voice notes That at my submission with Enveloped which I addressed to the president Mr. Kalu Nkobi opened it and have also requested for my picture which is already in the envelope.
“That Chief Kalu Nkobi called me severally which I didn’t pick up his call but he called one prince Nwojo Ogbogu my age grade mate only to tell Nwojo that he should tell me to come and collect back my form that am only allowed to via for Vice President that was on 1st July, 2023 10 am.
“That Chief Kalu Nkobi on Monday morning called me to come to the ACIU hall to come and collect my receipt for the President since he has my completed N10,000.00 (Ten Thousand Naira) as the fee for the President, and I told him I was coming which I did not go and believe he has the receipt with him as the Financial Secretary.
“That on Tuesday 4th July 2023 one Mr James went to pay his dues and I asked him to collect, the receipt from Chief Kalu Nkobi and Chief Kalu Nkobi told him that he couldn’t find the receipt.
“That Elder Agwu Oji Boko personally signed a hidden resolution and shared the position as he deemed fit for them and never worked according to the constitution of A.C.I.U. of 1942 and 1988 as Amended.
“That I believe you and your team must have acknowledged your pranks that its unconstitutional and UNDEMOCRATIC at a time when Nigeria is working towards building a better democratic environment for economic development and establishment of free, credible and peaceful election that Elders like you will be part of shame.
“That you should understand that the crowd that came out to vote, since your 13years in the position were unconstitutional have not commanded such crowd, that will tell you CHANGE has come for a peaceful co-existence of Abiriba’ Ancient Kingdom, therefore RIGHT must be RIGHT will WRONG must be WRONG as a “stitch in time saves nine”.
“That I, Darlington Onuoha Kalu wish you all to learn to be DEMOCRATIC and abide by every law and order FOR the good of the land and as to become our nature. Thanks and God bless while you correct every mistake made other than a stick NECK for the law is truth.”
