John Nwaigwe
TENSION MOUNTS IN ARIARIA AS TRADERS, PARTY STAKEHOLDERS RESIST ALLEGED MOVE TO RETURN SUSPENDED CHAIRMAN, CHIKADIBIA OZOEKWE
Fresh tension is building within Ariaria International Market as traders, party stakeholders, and concerned executives push back against what they describe as an alleged plan to reinstate Mr. Chikadibia Ozoekwe as Chairman of the market.
Sources within Ariaria Ward 9 in Aba North Local Government Area say the development has stirred anxiety among traders who fear that his return could revive past controversies and destabilize the market’s administrative structure.
Stakeholders warn that any attempt to reinstate the suspended chairman may carry significant political consequences, particularly within Ariaria Ward 9 and Aba North, as political activities gradually align toward the 2027 electoral cycle. According to them, such a move could undermine public confidence in the current political structure within the ward.
Party insiders maintain that Mr. Ozoekwe remains under an indefinite suspension reportedly imposed in August 2023 by the Labour Party Ariaria Ward 9 Chapter, barely two months after his appointment in June 2023. The suspension letter allegedly cited anti-party activities, misrepresentation of party ideals, disobedience to party leadership, and conduct considered inconsistent with party principles.
Among the allegations raised at the time were claims that he sidelined Labour Party faithful in the market’s leadership structure and allegedly replaced them with individuals perceived to have ties to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Other accusations reportedly included inviting police authorities against party members, collecting various sums of money from sub-union members under disputed circumstances, and allegedly invoking the names of government officials to intimidate political loyalists.
Party sources further claim that since the suspension, Mr. Ozoekwe has neither publicly apologized nor initiated reconciliation with ward leadership.
Additional allegations circulating within the market suggest that Mr. Ozoekwe has been sighted at meetings associated with the CityBoy Movement, described by insiders as a political structure linked to the All Progressives Congress (APC). While these claims could not be independently verified as of the time of filing this report, they have intensified internal debate within party circles. A source close to the ward leadership alleged that he had hinted at a possible defection if not reinstated, a development that has further heightened political tensions.
This is not the first time his leadership has faced opposition. In August 2023, stakeholders and patrons of Ariaria International Market reportedly petitioned government authorities, including the Commissioner for Trade and Commerce and members of the Abia State House of Assembly, expressing dissatisfaction with his style of administration. The petition allegedly accused him of high-handedness, imposition of illegal and ungazetted levies, dictatorial tendencies, and prioritizing personal interests above collective welfare. Petitioners at the time reportedly called for urgent intervention to prevent what they described as a looming crisis within the market.
Within the same period, concerned executives appointed alongside him were said to have passed a vote of no confidence, citing what they described as disregard for official communiqués and internal administrative procedures. They reportedly urged relevant authorities to remove him in order to restore stability and protect the reputation of the state government within the market.
As speculation about a possible reinstatement spreads, several traders have expressed apprehension, warning that a return to what they describe as a turbulent phase in the market’s administration could disrupt economic activities in Aba, widely regarded as the commercial nerve center of Abia State.
Political observers within Aba North have advised caution, emphasizing that any decision regarding market leadership should prioritize party discipline, administrative continuity, and the broader political stability of the area.
Efforts to obtain official confirmation regarding any reinstatement plan were unsuccessful at the time of this report. However, party sources insist that Mr. Ozoekwe remains under suspension and has not been formally recalled by the ward chapter.
As developments continue to unfold, stakeholders say they will monitor the situation closely, reiterating calls for transparent, accountable, and inclusive leadership within Ariaria International Market, one of the largest trading hubs in West Africa.
