The Imo State Chapter of Actors Guild of Nigeria AGN have gone back to their days of power tussle with 3 different persons currently fronting as Chairman of the association.
Imo AGN has seen power transition as a huge mountain to climb, with Nneoma Ukpabi whose tenure was supposed to expire in late 2019 still fronting as Chairman.
Uneoma Ukpabi, Barr. Everistus Emeka Ihejirika and Prince Uche Adiele all attended a meeting of leaders of entertainment guilds in Imo State, introducing themselves as Chairmen of the guild.
Nneoma Ukpabi who emerged State Chairman in 2017, was vying for re-election, but saw the process halted by the ban on public gatherings due to Covid-19 pandemic.
Imo AGN And Politics
Imo State AGN has had a history of affiliation with ruling government in the state and that affected their election scheduled for December 2019, as interest of some government officials clashed with some of the high powers in the organization.
Because of the clash of interests, the election which was supposed to see the two-year turner of Nneoma Ukpabi come to an end in December 2019, moved to 2020 and kept moving until Covid-19 restrictions finally halted it.
My Tenure Was Illegally Terminated – Nneoma Ukpabi
Speaking with www.otowngist.com, Nneoma Ukpabi said it is unconstitutional for the National executives led by Emeka Rollas to say they have terminated her tenure.
She said that the national president is not only being unfair, but biased as their move to appoint an interim executive in her stead was purely illegal.
“I am still the State Chairman of Imo AGN until an election holds in the state. As a matter of fact, I am running for a second tenue; I have bought the form and I am ready for election any time they want it.
“Saving that I have been removed from office is illegal and unconstitutional”
I’m Legitimate But Acting Chairman – Prince Uche Adiele
Prince Uche Adiele who is popularly known as Harmony said he is the Acting Chairman of the Association, adding that the Chairman of the Interim Executive Barr. Everistus Emeka Ihejirika voluntarily stepped down to allow a probe on him move smoothly.
Prince Adiele said he recognizes the Interim Executive, but Barr. Ihejirika is no longer the leader, that he agreed to step down in a meeting he convened and by the plea of a committee he (Ihejirika) constituted.
He argue that there is no way a person who stepped down because of a probe on him would be fronting as the chairman of the association, tagging it a shameful act.
“A member moved a motion for him to step aside for smooth investigation and he agreed. There in the meeting I stepped up as the Acting Interim Chairman” Prince Adiele said, adding that the committee headed by Jerico is yet to submit their report and Barr. Ihejirika will only come back to office if he is not found wanting.
Prince Adiele Is Sacked, They Don’t Know The Constitution – Barr. Ihejirika
Barr. Everistus Emeka Ihejirika has laughed over the quoting of the constitution by Nneoma Ukpabi, saying that none of them knows the constitution of the association better than he does.
Barr. Ihejirika who argued that he is still the legitimate leader of AGN in Imo State, said others are making noise to attract attention.
He revealed that Prince Adiele’s appointment as the Vice President of the Interim Executive has been terminated by the National executive and he has the letter with him.
Barr. Ihejirika also argued that Prince Adiele is aware of the termination of his appointment, while adding that Nneoma Ukpabi’s tenure expired in December 2019 and she has no business again with the office.
What Is The Probe About?
According to some members of the guild who spoke to www.otowngist.com, the guild was supposed to have a Valentines Day Party and both cash and material donations were made towards that.
Members and Prince Adiele confirmed that the party was a flop as most of the materials donated by members were nowhere to be found at the party venue.
Barr. Ihejirika as the chairman of interim executive set up a committee to find out the cause of the flopped party and in the meeting member raised a motion that the committee will not be fair if they are still reporting to the interim Chairman and another motion was moved for him to step aside, our source said.
Barr. Ihejirika agreed to step aside because all fingers were pointing at him and in the same meeting, Prince Uche Adiele was asked to step up as acting Chairman of the guild in Imo State.
Special Adviser To The Governor, Bobby Michaels To The Rescue
The Special Adviser to Imo State Governor on Entertainment, Hon. Bobby Michael who is also a Nollywood actor and film maker, has waded into the matter, asking all parties to attend a meeting on Tuesday.
Hon. Michaels who did not speak much on the matter during a meeting with leaders of Imo entertainers, said he will hear from both parties to find a lasting solution to the issue.
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