Commission intervenes in Nnewi spare parts dealers market election crisis

The Public Complaints Commission on Wednesday urged members of the Agbaedo Spare Parts Market Dealers, Nnewi in Anambra to abide by its constitution and the culture of its hosts.
Samben Nwosu, the Federal Commissioner of PCC in Anambra, gave the advice when he addressed the market leaders in his office in Awka on Wednesday.
The market leaders’ delegation included members of the Board of Trustees, the patron, chairman and the aggrieved parties.
Agbaedo Spare Parts Market has no fewer than 10, 000 traders with 3,000 shops.
Gabriel Chibueze, the outgoing Chairman of the market, said they had not been able to hold election because a candidate who is not from the rightful zone insisted on contesting.
Chibueze, whose tenure ended in June, said it was time for Nnewi people to produce chairman but a candidate was not respecting the rotation principle among the four towns of Nnewi.
He said: “Our market constitution says natives and non-natives of Nnewi will take position each after the other; there is an existing principle of rotation among them.
“Otolo people are supposed to give us candidates who we can chose from but a particular candidate from Umudim is trying to scuttle that internal arrangement.
“Nnewi has a process for producing whoever will take their turn. I have advised all the parties to adhere to it, I am happy with the way PPC has handled the matter.”
Contributing, Chief Edward Muozom, Leader of the Traders Association, corroborated that Otolo should produce the chairman of the market as the other villages; Nnewi-Ichi, Uruagu and Umudim were heading other markets.
Muozom said they were at the PCC as an alternative dispute resolution body for a win-win solution for all parties.
He said the matter had been taken to a number of places for settlement, including the traditional ruler of Nnewi and other important sons of the town who advised that Otolo should take its turn.
On his part, Dennis Ikegwuonu, the candidate from Umudim, said he would only abide by the constitution of the market which was silent on how Nnewi should present a candidate.
Ikegwuonu said he was not aware of any sharing formula internal to Nnewi and that it did not apply to the affairs of the market if it existed.
He said: “I came out to contest the chairmanship after people urged me to do so. Our constitution says it is Nnewi’s turn but they are saying it is rotational among the four villages but I am not aware of it.
“I have been screened and certified to contest but surprisingly they postponed the election asking me to step down for the Otolo candidate, but I will go and tell my supporters what was resolved here.”
In resolving the matter, Nwosu said the position of the entire Nnewi town on the matter was important since the constitution had zoned the position to them.
He said: “In conducting our affairs, we must respect our people. Your constitution says Nnewi should produce the next chairman, it is now an internal matter to Nnewi people to decide the community that will produce.
“This is what has kept the town together as a unit and it should be respected at all times and in all places so far as it is their collective right. So, I encourage you to obey the words of your people.”
Nwosu said the market election would hold on December 13, adding that an election committee, to include representatives of PCC, Nigerian Police, DSS, Nnewi North Council, BoT and chairman would be constituted.
He said all activities before now were void and that a new election process would commence in earnest.