Controversy trails election of Ohanaeze Ndigbo president as Barrister Uche Okwukwu claims he is new leader

CONTROVERSY has emerged over the election of a new president-general of pan-Igbo group Ohanaeze Ndigbo as the organisation's former secretary-general Uche Okwukwu is disputing the election of Senator John Azuta-Mbata as the association's new leader.

Yesterday, Ohanaeze announced that Senator Azuta-Mbata, the former lawmaker representing Rivers East senatorial District in the National assembly was its new president-general. After a summit which took place in Enugu, the Ikwerre-speaking senator was named as the successor to Fidelis Chukwu, who headed Ohanaeze briefly in an interim capacity following the death of Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyawu.

However, all is not honky dory as Mr Okwukwu is insisting that he was duly elected as the new president-general of the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation. Also from Rivers State, Mr Okwukwu claims he was elected as new Ohanaeze Ndigbo president-general in Port Harcourt by a faction of the organisation.

Speaking on Arise TV earlier today, Mr Okwukwu, who has the backing of the Indigenous People of Biafra (Ipob), faulted Senator Azuta-Mbata’s election. According to him, the election in Enugu was not in line with Ohanaeze’s tradition and he insisted that only the Port Harcourt election that produced him followed due process.

Mr Okwukwu said: “In 2017, Ohanaeze’s elections were held in Enugu because the president-general was coming from Enugu so the election was held there, while in 2021, it was the turn of Imo State to produce the president-general and the election was held in Imo State. In 2025, it was the turn of Rivers State to produce the president-general and the election was held in Port Harcourt.

“I, Uche Okwukwu, former secretary-general Ohanaeze Worldwide, emerged victorious in that election and I don’t know about any election held in Enugu State Government House. It is not in line with our tradition.

"You don’t hold elections in Government House because you don’t expect delegates to come into a caged place. Elections are held in places where people can access.”

Ipob has already congratulated Mr Okwukwu and has charged the governors of the southeast geo-political zone and Ohanaeze’s Ime-Obi against subverting the choice of the people due to selfish political interests. Ipob spokesman Emma Powerful, said, however, that the southeast governors have already engaged in activities aimed at sabotaging the progress of the Igbo nation.

A barrister and activist, Mr Okwukwu in his acceptance speech said his top priorities include engaging the federal government on the unconditional release of Ipob leader Nnamdi Kanu and the restructuring of Nigeria. He then promised to unite fractured nerves and bring the Igbo together as one indivisible family, saying that he was fully aware of the unprecedented trust reposed in him and his capacity to do so.