Eze Kelvin Ngozi Anugwo, has emerged the winner of the Eze Ekpeye Logbo stool election conducted on Saturday at Ahoada Town, the administrative headquarters of Ekpeye Kingdom in Ahoada East Local Government Area of Rivers State.
Anugwo garnered five votes out of a total of 12 delegates to defeat his three other rivals; High Chief Nname Robinson Ewor grabbed four votes, while High Chief Stephen Ezekwem Amenim and High Chief (Prof.) Dulu Appah, scored three and zero votes respectively.
Declaring the result, the Electoral Committee chairman, Hon Stephen Umanta Ihua-Maduenyi, ex-Ahoada East Council boss, advised the contestants to accept the result in good faith, noting that the election was conducted in the glare of the law enforcement agencies, Rivers State Government representatives, press men and other observers. The chairman after announcing the result, issued certificate of return to Anugwo, the winner of the election.
Speaking shortly after the declaration, Anugwo said, “I am overwhelmed. I never knew Ekpeye people like me this way; I dedicate the certificate to God, and my late parents, who never lived to see their son become the third Eze Ekpeye Logbo.” Anugwo thanked all his supporters including the law enforcement agencies and both council chairmen for making the day a huge success.
He reiterated his three points agenda which include security, peace and placing Ekpeye in the scheme of things.
Meanwhile, effort to get comments from the losers failed as they had departed the information centre, the venue of the election, before the result was pronounced.
The Electoral Committee Chairman remarked that election of Eze Ekpeye Logbo was not strange in Ekpeye land. He emphasised that it started when the need for a Chief to represent Ekpeye at the Eastern Region House of Chiefs in Enugu, was established by the colonial government.
Maduenyi noted that the maiden election which saw the Late Upata, Eze Edmund Unoshi Ashirim, as winner was keenly contested by late Chief Tom Imo from Ehuda, Late Chief Fred Ogbonna from Igbuduya, while Late Chiefs Aganuzor and J.D. Okwukwu were Akoh and Ubie. He added that Ashirim who represented the Ekpeye at the House of Chiefs reigned from 1960-1977.
The ex-Ahoada East council boss recalled that the second election was occasioned by the demise of the first occupant of the stool of Eze Ekpeye Logbo in 1978. He said, Late Eze Robinson O. Robinson (Ubie) emerged as the winner, while Chief C.U. Ideozu from Ehuda, Eze O. Owukori of Igbuduya and Chief C.A. Okpara – Upata were among the contestants. He added that Eze Robinson ruled from 1978-2018.
He stated further that the vacancy created by the death of Eze Robinson necessitated the formation of the Committee he chaired to conduct the election.
Recall that the Ekpeye people have been grappling with the election of a new Eze Ekpeye Logo since after the conclusion of the necessary rites associated with proper burial of their late monarch.
The Tide learnt that there were agitations from the various clans especially Ubie and Upata clans laying claims as the heir apparent to the stool. To make matters worse, even the incumbent first class monarchs of the clans were allegedly eyeing the apex seat of Ekpeye.
However, relief came their way as the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, during one of his facility visits to Ekpeye land last December, issued an ultimatum that the Ekpeye should elect another monarch within two months.
Recall also that the people of Ekpeye ethnic nationality had held a special congress last Thursday to address the issue of the lingering Eze Ekpeye Logbo election. While in the convention at Ekpeye House in Ahoada, it was unanimously agreed that the earlier 20 delegates prescribed by the Eleco from each of the six clans of Ekpeye be pruned to two delegates each and a new date fixed for the election.
Also in the said meeting, a 7-man Eleco led by High Chief Godwin Osai was set up to conduct election of Uzugbani Ekpeye Executives (EU) whose tenure expires May 2022.The members of the committee who were drawn from the six clans and one special nominee for EU executive has High Chief Godwin Osai (Upata) and Barr. Hamilton Morrison (Ubie) as Chairman and Secretary. Others include ;Adamu Moses (Ahoada), Barr. Uchechukwu Igbegiri (Igbuduya), Mr Godday Owoh Chizhim (Ugbobi), Mr. Umuna Robinson (Akoh) and Dr. Friday Onyije (EU exco nominee).
Meanwhile, the Eleco after inauguration was given 30days within which to conclude their work.

BY: Agimo, Emenike Benson