The Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Ikwo Noyo Youth Consultative Forum, Hon. Benstev Ede, has shed light on the reasons behind the suspension of the forum’s proposed election, emphasizing that the decision was made in the interest of peace, order, and unity within the body.
Reacting to a counter-statement allegedly issued by three BoT members, Hon. Ede described it as a politically motivated move by one of the trustees, whom he accused of acting to please his political sponsors.
“As the BoT Chairman, I acted in the overall interest of the forum to prevent the crisis that would have erupted if the election had been allowed to proceed,” Ede stated. “Neither the Board nor key stakeholders were formally notified about the planned election. We did not approve the electoral committee or the guidelines, which is a clear breach of our constitution.”
He further explained that a legal suit challenging alleged alterations to the forum's constitution and the proposed election process necessitated an immediate pause. “With the matter already in court, it became imperative to suspend the election and allow for due legal and internal resolutions,” he said.
Refuting claims that he acted unilaterally, Hon. Ede recounted his efforts to consult fellow BoT members. “When we were served the court summons—which named all of us as defendants—I contacted Hon. John Ogodo first. He proposed a private meeting, which I declined, insisting that decisions must be made collectively as a Board. Two other members were out of state, and our secretary was away on an assignment, so we resolved to hold an urgent WhatsApp meeting. All BoT members, including Ogodo, were present online. While he refused to contribute, others unanimously agreed that we should suspend the election. I have the messages and deliberations to back this up.”
He noted that following the radio announcement officially suspending the election, several BoT members, including Ogodo and Mr. Onward Amaechi, commended his swift action. “But shortly afterward, as political pressure mounted, Ogodo went to the radio to counter the announcement—an act beyond his authority. The BoT secretary has since disowned that disclaimer.”
On the next steps, Hon. Ede said the Board is working toward a peaceful resolution. “We are planning an enlarged stakeholders meeting next week to review the court matter and chart a path forward. The peace and progress of Ikwo Noyo Clan and its youth remain our priority. Once all contentious issues are resolved, the election will hold in line with our constitution,” he concluded.
