Anambra Community Protests Alleged Government Plan to Conduct Igweship Election Against Constitution

Residents of Ndiowu community in Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State have appealed to Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo to intervene and extend the date for the proposed Igweship election, warning that proceeding with the exercise as scheduled could lead to unrest in the town.

The appeal followed a peaceful protest by indigenes of the community against what they described as an alleged plan by the Anambra State Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs to conduct the Igweship (Eze Ndiowu) election on Monday, January 12, 2026, in violation of the community’s constitution.

The protesters faulted the proposed use of a secret ballot system, which they said contravenes Ndiowu’s gazetted traditional constitution, as well as the alleged exclusion of women from the electoral process.

Earlier on Saturday, during a town hall meeting with representatives of the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, women, youths and elders of the community reportedly rejected the insistence that the election must hold on January 12, despite widespread opposition from the indigenes.

Addressing journalists during a press briefing on Sunday at the Ndiowu Town Hall, the former President-General of the Ndiowu Development Union, Chief Chike Emenike, appealed to Governor Soludo to urgently intervene to prevent a breakdown of law and order.

Chief Emenike said the community had unanimously agreed that the election should be shifted to the 2026 Easter period to allow for broader participation of Ndiowu indigenes, particularly those residing outside the state.

“Our last traditional ruler died 11 years ago. Since the creation of Ndiowu community, Igweship elections have never been conducted outside the provisions of our constitution,” he said.

He expressed concern that the election date fixed by the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs under the leadership of Commissioner Tony Collins Nwabunwanne was inconsistent with the community’s constitution, which is duly gazetted by the state government.

“It has never happened in Ndiowu that an Igweship election is conducted using a secret ballot system or with the disenfranchisement of women,” Emenike stated.

He warned that proceeding with the election as planned would amount to imposing a traditional ruler on the community. “We do not want someone based in Abuja, Lagos, Calabar or Port Harcourt imposed on us as our monarch. Ndiowu people are peace-loving, but we will not accept an action that goes against our constitution and traditions,” he said.

The Igweship contest is expected to involve Barrister Ogochukwu Nwankwo, Mr. Onyeka Nwafor, Mr. Onyeka Kanu, Mr. Obuneme Okeke and Chief Chibuzor Okeke.

Also speaking, the Ndiowu Women Leader, Lady Ifeyinwa Okafor, and the Youth Leader, Comrade Onyeka Okeke, threatened to boycott the process if the government fails to cancel the election and reschedule it to a more appropriate date that would allow full community participation.

They argued that holding the election during the 2026 Easter celebration would give the community sufficient time to notify sons and daughters of Ndiowu living outside the state.

Those present at the briefing included the Umuada Ndiowu Leader, Mrs. Ndidi Okeke; NTU Women Wing Leader, Mrs. Oby Okoli; Youth Leader, Mazi Ugochukwu Imoh; and several village heads, including Mazi Orji Sopulu (Obinagu), Mr. Obum Okoli (Enumgbom), Mazi Uchenna Okoli Iloh (Umudiabor), Mazi Paul Owuh (Uhueze), Mazi Obiora Mgbemena (Ubaha), Mazi Nwabuike Nwosu (Abormgbego), Mazi Jonathan Okoli (Agbata), Mazi Vincent Nwankwor (Igheakpu), and Barrister Ugochukwu Nwankwor (Aborughuana), among others.

Tinubu Appoints Chioma Awuzie Substantive Rector, Fed Poly Oko

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the appointment of Dr. Chioma Irene Awuzie as the substantive Rector of Federal Polytechnic, Oko, Anambra State. Dr. Awuzie's appointment, which takes effect immediately for a five-year term, follows the recommendation of the Polytechnic's Governing Council, chaired by Sen. Dr. Barnabas Gemade, after a transparent and competitive selection process where she emerged as the leading candidate. Prior to her appointment, Awuzie, who holds a Doctorate Degree in Physical and Materials Chemistry, was a distinguished Chief Lecturer in the Department of Science Laboratory Technology (Chemistry Option) and also Director in-charge of Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) Projects in the Polytechnic. Under her stewardship, Federal Polytechnic, Oko, witnessed unprecedented advancements in infrastructure and institutional transformation. Her leadership facilitated monumental developments across the Polytechnic’s campuses in Oko, ...

Tension In Uruagu Nnewi As Community Leaders Dare Soludo,Defy Court Order

The President of Uruagu-Nnewi Development Union, Chief Sunday Okoli aka Organizer, and the Obi of Uruagu-Nnewi community in Nnewi North local government area of Anambra State, His Majesty Afamefuna Charles Obi, have swept Soludo's directive to the gutters, by reason of their suspension and subsequent dessolution of the leadership of the community's youth forum, led by Ejike Ifejiofor, and subsequent appointment of caretaker executive to pilot the affairs of youths in the community. The Anambra governor had, through a letter dated August 9, 2024, signed by the Permanent Secretary, Anambra State Ministry of Youth Development, Dr. Martin Agbili, warned the community leaders to stay any action regarding suspension of the Uruagu-Nnewi youth forum. The community had, through its PG, Chief Okoli, written to the Ministry of Youths Development, notifying the ministry of "immediate suspension" of the youth group over alleged insecurity in the area. But the ministry,...

#Watchvideo : SECURITY FORCES BURST THE CAMP OF UNKNOWN GUNMEN IN AKOKWA

Security Forces in the state through a coordinated intelligence report has bursted the camp of the unknown gunmen at Akokwa, Arondizuogu after a long gun duel which resulted to the death of some of the criminals and others arrested. These criminal elements have been known to be behind several attacks in the state such as the killing of police men in Mbaise, Aba Branch in Ehime Mbano, burning down of police stations, attack and attempted kidnapping of former Governor Ikedi Ohakim, abduction of Miss. P.P. Johnson, a female soldier in Okigwe and recently the attack in Akokwa that left many dead. It is obvious that these daredevil gunmen have been perpetuating their evil plans unabated until yesterday when their camp was bursted by security agencies. This is another assurance that our security operatives are leaving no stone unturned in the fight against banditry and other related activities. While it has become obvious that the activities of these non state actors are politically motivate...