Problem arises as group rejects outcome of Ohaneze Ndi-Igbo president general election

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The pan-Igbo socio-cultural organization’s new president general, Senator John Azuta Mbata, was elected by the southeast governors, according to a group called the Igbo Mandate Congress, or IMC, which has rejected the results of the election of the Ohaneze Ndigbo President General that was recently held in Enugu.

In a news release provided to journalists by its director-general, Rev. Obinna Akukwe, the group claimed that the governors had colluded to conceal the election’s location and that they had previously warned that the governors intended to appoint a senator from Rivers State.

The statement read in Part; “The venue of the election was kept top secret till Friday morning when delegates were informed that it would hold at Old Governors Lodge, Enugu. At the old governor’s lodge, team of police and DSS officials were given lists of delegates for the polls and given orders not to allow anyone inside the venue. The lists were as compiled and approved by the respective governors.”

The governors of the southeast were accused by the organization of swaying the delegate lists by making sure that their supporters became possible voters in the election.

“The delegates, selected by the Governors and their cronies were told to assemble at the Ohanaeze Ndigbo National Headquarters to collect both their accreditation tags and their payment money for loyalty.”

“Some delegates told IMC officials that they were paid a couple of millions, while others were paid hundreds of thousands of naira, according to levels and status. The loyalty payments were given through electronic transfers at the Ohanaeze Secretariate while some received theirs at the Old Governors lodge.”the group further alleged.

Rev. Akukwe revealed that the body had previously warned candidates and other pertinent parties, including activists, since Monday, January 6, that the governors were reportedly preparing to sabotage the election process, based on reliable information.

According to the group, the governors’ engagement in the process was motivated by their desire to exclude certain individuals from the next generation of Apex Igbo socio-cultural leaders.

“The aspirants, exhuming empty over confidence, were baited, with divided ranks, and outflanked before the polls. The Governors made frantic efforts to force Mike Okiro to step down for Senator Mbata and he initially refused. After granting a press conference announcing a withdrawal until he gets legal redress, Okiro appeared at the Ohanaeze Secretariat , got screened by 10pm and asked his supporters to await a court judgment tomorrow that will enable him to contest.”Rev.Akukwe hinted.

They urged all Igbo stakeholders to step up and make sure that politicians, namely governors, stay out of Ohanaeze matters, arguing that the organization is an important part of the Igbo race’s general development and interest and should be free of politics.

Another event is the announcement of two candidates as the successors to departing President General Fidelis Ozichukwu Chukwu by two factions inside the Igbo socio-cultural organization.

In their respective declarations, the groups announced Chief Jackson Omenazu and Dim Uche Nnam Okwukwu as the new Igbo sociocultural group president general.

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