Owerri Municipal Chairman, Hon Chidiebere Dragged To Court Over Inability To Organize A Credible Election At Nwaorie Lane Market

The Executive Chairman of Owerri Municipal Council Hon. Chidiebere Emeribe has been dragged to court for conducting an election alleged to be characterized by fraud, lawlessness and impunity at Nwaorie Lane Industrial Market, Douglas Road Owerri. 

Hon. Emeribe and his men had on Saturday  9th  August, 2025 conducted an election of Nwaorie Lane Industrial Market that saw one Mr. Chima Nwaokeke as the winner, hence the newly elected chairman of the market whom according to report was sworn-in hours later with his other elected executives.

However, in a suit No. HMI/131/2025, instituted by some stakeholders of the market led by Mr. Anumnini .S. Chimamkpam, Ben Iwunze and Okey Nwaokorie, at Nwaorieubi, High Court against the executive Chairman, his electoral committee chairman and the acclaimed winner of the chairmanship position Chima Nwaokeke, the traders accused the executive chairman and his electoral committee of violating the constitution of the market’s union right from the preparatory stage of the said election despite been informed of the danger.

They made it clear that the purported election was conducted contrary to the provision of the association’s constitution and that the swearing-in of the purported elected members hours later is a violation of Article  VIII (a) of the said constitution which provided that member should be sworn-in after two weeks.

They further submitted that the constitution provided that the election must be open secret ballot system but it was conducted in secret. Also that appointment of a three man electoral committee by the Executive chairman and Owerri Municipal Council is wrong as what the constitution says in Article Viii © which states that the market shall appoint an electoral committee of not more than 9 persons to conduct a free and fair election who shall declare winner, issue certificate of office and swear them in.

Other submission are:

That the said purported election also witnessed the election of and swearing of a “welfare officer” which is not one of the recognized offices by the said constitution.

That the person purportedly won the chairmanship is not a practicing and or registered member of the association. But rather a member of St. Paul’s Lane which is not part of Nwaorie Lane yet the chairman and his men went ahead to declare him the winner.

They however alleged that if the election is allowed to hold, a very bad precedent has been set and same will destroy the coexistence of the association as the suit is filed in the interest of the Association. while the respondents will stands to lose nothing or be jeopardize if proper election in line with Association’s constitution is conducted. 

And finally, the association is an association of traders and asuch, the government either the executive chairman or Municipal Council should allow the traders to manage and unit themselves. 

The suit is therefore seeking for the interpretation of the Nwaorie Lane Industrial Market Association’s constitution as they prayed for the following orders of the honourable court:

An order setting aside the purported election of the officers of the Nwaorie Lane Industrial Market Association Owerri by the Respondents as same is null and void abinitio, having violated the provisions of (Article VIII (A) Article VIII (C), Article III and Article V) of Nwaorie Lane Industrial Market Association Owerri Constitution/Bye Laws.

AN ORDER of the honourable court setting aside the inauguration/swearing in of the purported elected executives of Nwaorie Lane industrial Market Association Owerri as the said election purported to have brought them into office is null and void abinitio, having violated the provisions of (Article VIII (A) Article VIII (C), Article III and Article V) of Nwaorie Lane Industrial Market Association Owerri Constitution/Bye Laws.

AN ORDER of the honourable court directing members of Nwaorie Lane industrial market association Owerri to set up an electoral committee, conduct election, inaugurate and or swear in duly elected members and issue certificate of office in strict obedience and compliance to the provisions of Nwaorie Lane Industrial market Association Owerri Constitution/Bye Laws.

AN INJUCTIVE ORDER of this honourable restraining the defendants particularly the 2nd (Hon. Chidiebere) and 3rd  (Owerri Municipal Council) Defendants/Respondents from interfering, obstructing, intimidating, influencing, sponsoring, funding, organizing and or holding any election of executive of Nwaorie lane industrial market association Owerri unless and except with an order of this honourable court.

AN  INJUNCTIVE ORDER of this honourable court restraining the 1st Defendant/Respondent (MR. CHIMA NWAOKEKE) from contesting, interfering, disrupting the said election, having not registered or become a member of Nwaorie lane industrial market association Owerri.

AN INJUCTIVE ORDER of this Honourable court restraining the 1st Defendant/Respondent (MR. CHIMA NWAOKEKE) and others from parading themselves as elected executive of Nwaorie lane industrial market association Owerri or acting in that capacity over affairs affecting members of the association. 

And any order(s) as the Honourable Court may deem fit in the circumstance of the case meanwhile the case has been set for hearing immediately after court recess.