by TQM report,
Joint National Association of Persons With Disabilities (JONAPWD), Imo State chapter has elected new executives to run its affairs in the next election year despite court order barring the association from organising election in the state.
The election which held during the weekend at the Owerri Capital of the State had Dr. Stanley Nwachukwu emerge the chairman of JONAPWD, Imo State chapter.
Nwachukwu polled 72 votes to defeat his closest rival, Barr. Samuel Chukwudi Ihezue who polled 64 votes.
Others contesting for chairmanship position were Mr. Nnadi Nnamdi Isidore, (Ndugba) 22 votes, and Ohuabunwa Godwin who garnered a lone vote to maintain a distant fourth position.
The keenly contested election was under the watchful eyes of security agents, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) staff and the press.
Other elected Executives were, Mrs. Clinton Amadi as (Vice Chairman), Emeka Rex Nwaocha (Secretary), Obieze Linus (Assistant Secretary) and Ibeh Joseph as Treasurer respectively.
Announcing the result, Chairman of Electoral Committee, Mr. Ikenna Orisaeke commended delegates for conducting the election peacefully, and described the exercise as not only free, fair and credible, but one of the most thoroughly conducted poll in the history of the Association.
Also speaking, Secretary of the Electoral Committee, Hon Ndubuisi Opara expressed happiness that the election ended without any record of violence, and appealed to those who lost not to see their defeat as the end of the world.
Hon Opara called on those that contested and the entire members of JONAPWD to join hands with the new executive to take the association to enviable heights. He also advised the Dr. Nwachukwu-led new exco to carry every cluster along.
In his speech, the new Chairman, Dr. Nwachukwu thanked members of the association for finding him worthy to serve, assuring them of his willingness to run an all-inclusive administration.
He further promised to work in synergy with members of his executive to realize their programs, while calling on those who lost to join hands with him to move the association forward.
Also, in separate speeches, Special Adviser to the Governor on Persons With Disabilities, Dr Samuelson Emehibe and the South East Coordinator of JONAPWD, Comrade Wisdom Okechukwu commended the Electoral Committee for organizing the most credible and rancor free election in the association’s history while advising losers to embrace the new executive.
Dr. Emehibe further maintained that in as much as everyone would not be elected the same time, there was need for members to come together to pursue a common goal geared towards bringing unity, tolerance and development to the association in the state, and appealed to them to key into the 3R mantra of the present Shared Prosperity government of Governor Hope Uzodinma.
Highlight of the event was the presentation of certificate of return to the new Chairman by the Electoral Committee members.
