Igbo Mandate Congress Rejects Ohanaeze Ndigbo Presidential Election

The Igbo Mandate Congress (IMC) has rejected the outcome of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo presidential election held recently in Enugu, alleging that southeast governors manipulated the process that led to the emergence of Senator John Azuta Mbata as the new President-General of the pan-Igbo socio-cultural organization.

In a press statement issued by its Director-General, Rev. Obinna Akukwe, the IMC accused the governors of conspiring to keep the election venue a secret and installing a preferred candidate.

The statement read:

“The venue of the election was kept top secret until Friday morning when delegates were informed it would hold at the Old Governor’s Lodge, Enugu.

At the venue, police and DSS officials were given delegate lists approved by the governors, barring anyone not on the lists from entering.”

The group alleged that the governors influenced the delegate lists to ensure that only their loyalists participated in the election.

It further claimed that selected delegates were invited to the Ohanaeze Ndigbo National Headquarters to collect accreditation tags and financial inducements for their loyalty.

“Some delegates told IMC officials they received payments ranging from hundreds of thousands to millions of naira via electronic transfers, either at the Ohanaeze Secretariat or the Old Governor’s Lodge,” the statement alleged.

Rev. Akukwe revealed that the IMC had earlier warned candidates and activists of alleged plans by the governors to hijack the electoral process.

According to him, the interference was aimed at preventing certain candidates from emerging as leaders of the apex Igbo socio-cultural organization.

“The aspirants, exhibiting overconfidence, were baited, divided, and outmaneuvered before the polls. The governors pressured Mike Okiro to step down for Senator Mbata.

After initially refusing and announcing a legal challenge, Okiro eventually appeared at the Ohanaeze Secretariat for screening at 10 p.m. and asked his supporters to await a court judgment,” Akukwe disclosed.

The IMC called on Igbo stakeholders to resist political interference in Ohanaeze affairs, emphasizing the organization’s critical role in advancing Igbo interests and development.

Factional Crisis Deepens in Ohanaeze Ndigbo Leadership

Meanwhile, two factional groups of the Igbo socio-cultural organization have separately announced different candidates as successors to the outgoing President-General, Fidelis Ozichukwu Chukwu.

In their statements, the factions declared Dim Uche Nnam Okwukwu and Chief Jackson Omenazu as the new President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, further deepening the leadership crisis within the organization.