Claims of factionalism have trailed the recent Ohanaeze Ndigbo election, but outgoing President-General Fidelis Chukwu has dismissed these allegations, insisting that the organization remains united. Chukwu stated this on Arise tv that the election, held at the Old Government Lodge in Enugu State, was widely accepted and celebrated. He emphasized the massive turnout of governors, legislators, traditional rulers, and other stakeholders, reaffirming the legitimacy of the election and denying any existence of parallel elections or divisions within Ohanaeze.
Despite these claims, Senator John Auta Mbata emerged as the new President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo. Delegates from Rivers State unanimously nominated Mbata after former Inspector General of Police, Michael Kiro, stepped down due to a court injunction. The presidency of Ohanaeze Ndigbo was zoned to Rivers State following the passing of Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, who previously represented Imo State.
Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah and his Imo State counterpart, Hope Uzodimma, emphasized the importance of peace and unity within Ohanaeze. They stressed that a divided organization weakens the collective strength of the Igbo people. Governor Mbah urged members to remain united, likening unity to a stack of arrows that cannot be easily broken. He expressed confidence that the newly elected leadership would elevate Ohanaeze as a champion of Igbo interests.
Delegates from the seven Igbo-speaking states also elected other officials into the new national executive. Chairman of the electoral committee, Indo Chairman, noted that the leadership emerged from local government and state levels before culminating in the national election, which began on January 7. Outgoing President-General Fidelis Chukwu commended the Enugu State Governor for hosting the event and overseeing a transparent election conducted via voice voting. Fifteen other individuals were also elected to various executive positions.
Senator Mbata, a former federal lawmaker who represented Rivers East Senatorial District from 1999 to 2007, brings extensive experience to his new role. In his acceptance speech, he pledged to foster unity among the Igbo people and tackle key challenges such as insecurity, unemployment, and political marginalization. He assured continued collaboration with stakeholders to advance the status of the Igbo community within Nigeria.
President Bola Tinubu congratulated Senator Mbata on his election and commended Ohanaeze Ndigbo for a successful leadership transition. He encouraged the new leadership to uphold the principles of their predecessors and highlighted the critical role socio-cultural organizations play in nation-building. Tinubu reaffirmed his commitment to fostering dialogue among Nigeria’s ethnic groups.
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As Senator Mbata assumes leadership, he faces pressing issues such as insecurity, unemployment, and political marginalization. The new leadership has pledged to create employment opportunities and foster an environment conducive to investment, aiming to drive community development and improve the well-being of the Igbo people.
