Chophy-led ANTA Dimapur unit rejects headquarters’ election results

DIMAPUR — The feud within the Dimapur unit of the All Nagaland Taxi Association (ANTA) has intensified following the recent unit election results notified by ANTA headquarters, Kohima, which declared Tohozhe Awomi as the president of the unit for the tenure of 2024–29.

In a press statement issued by Ghunato Chophy and Vinito K. Assumi, the faction of the ANTA Dimapur unit stated that Awomi and his office bearers were impeached and dissolved by the house during its general meeting held on November 8, 2023, at Hotel Saramati, Dimapur.

This action was taken due to constitutional violations, it said, claiming that Awomi held the office for the past 13 years without conducting elections and for financial mismanagement.

It went on to say that the court of Civil Judge Senior Division Dimapur vacated/disposed of the interlocutory application filed before the court by Awomi and his associates, and thus the court dismissed the temporary injunction in favour of Chophy and his office bearers.

It said that the court order dated February 7, 2024, put into effect Awomi’s impeachment as president of ANTA Dimapur unit by the house during its general meeting of constituent members and the dissolution of the ANTA Dimapur unit by office bearers.

It claimed that Awomi and his associates have no authority over the affairs of the ANTA Dimapur unit, nor do they have the authority to issue election notifications in the name of the ANTA Dimapur unit. As a result, it stated that the election result notification of ANTA headquarters is devoid of merit and thus not binding on the ANTA Dimapur unit.

Regarding the claims that the ANTA Dimapur unit election was conducted unconstitutionally and without the knowledge of the ANTA headquarters, it was clarified that the election commission notified and requested the president of the headquarters to detail an observer for the smooth conduct of the election via a letter dated November 14, 2023, but there was no response from the headquarters.

The faction of ANTA Dimapur unit also questioned why the ANTA headquarters had not intervened when “Awomi and his associates were in office unconstitutionally for the past 13 years,” when elections were supposed to be held every five years according to the constitution.

It claimed that ANTA headquarters failed to be a neutral body and failed to uphold its constitutional responsibility and obligations, and that the election held on February 12, 2024, was a violation of the court’s order.

Furthermore, it alleged that after being removed from office, Awomi and his associates are attempting to usurp the office of the constitutionally elected body of the ANTA Dimapur unit through various unconstitutional means.

It reaffirmed its commitment to the house resolution dated February 10, 2024, at Taxi Stand, Railway Station, Dimapur, wherein the house resolved to endorse the court order and further approved the election of Chophy and his team of office bearers.

It has directed all its bona fide members not to cooperate with Tohozhe Awomi in any manner.