January 11, 2025
By Idris Buba
A Former secretary-general of the apex Igbo socio-cultural organization who also contested the position, Chief Uche Okwukwu, has dismissed Friday’s election conducted by the group in Enugu State which produced Senator John Mbata as the new President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, stating that elections conducted by Ohanaeze Ndigbo has never been held in any government house.
Senator Mbata, who hails from Rivers State, emerged as the 13th president-general under a voice vote, replacing Fidelis Chukwu whose tenure came to an end on Friday, 10 January, 2025
Fifteen (15) other individuals were also elected to various executive positions within the organization.
Expressing his dissatisfaction with the election in Enugu, Mr. Okwukwu told journalists that there are guidelines to becoming the President-General of Ohanaeze, which included being a member of the organization and demonstrating a strong history of involvement.
Mr. Okwukwu questioned the legitimacy of Senator John Mbata claim to the position of President-General without being a member of Ohanaeze.
Okwukwu, asked “Can someone who has never attended any Ohanaeze meeting or demonstrated membership be declared president-general? Ask him if he can boldly stand and say that he is an Igbo, and that Ikwerre people are Igbo as well.”
Another indegene of Rivers state member of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Jackson Omenazu, had also laid claim to the position of the president-general, dismissing the election held in Enugu as an act of lawlessness.
READ MORE; Tony Okocha Led APC Kicks As Fubara Presents Budget To Three-man Assembly
“I am not bothered by what happened today.(Friday) I remain the president-general of Ohanaeze Ndigbo. The election process in Enugu was flawed, and they did not follow the guidelines,” he said.
Mr. Omenazu criticised some governors in the South-East, stating that only three out of the five governors were truly working for the interest of the people.
Senator John Mbata, of the Ikwerre ethnic nationality in Rivers state was elected on Friday at Enugu state, as the new President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide.
Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu has through in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Bayo Onanuga, congratulated Senator Mbata on his election as the president-general of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide.
