Igbo leaders want Ohanaeze Ndigbo parallel elections cancelled
Anthony Iwuoma
The end is yet to be heard about the controversial election of new leadership for Ohanaeze Ndigbo, as some concerned Igbo leaders under the auspices of The Global Igbo Leaders have rejected the results of the
exercise for flouting the constitution of the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation.
In a statement signed by several leaders of various Igbo organisations, such as Alaigbo Development Foundation (ADF), Nigeria: Prof Timothy Uzodinma Nwala, Prof Nathaniel Aniekwu, Mazi Ikechukwu Bismarck Oji, World Igbo Congress (WIC) the USA, etc., the global leaders expressed displeasure with the development and called for a cancellation of the exercise and the setting up of a caretaker to oversee the affairs of the organisation and an electoral committee to organise a fresh election in accordance with the Ohanaeze Ndigbo rules and regulations.
The statement read: “We held Emergency Zoom meeting on the 30th December 2020 (and advised the immediate past Ohanaeze Ndigbo Executives/Electoral Committees to follow Ohanaeze Ndigbo Constitution and the Electoral guidelines to the letter.
“The Global Igbo Leaders had another Zoom meeting on 3rd January 2021 and further recommend that a properly constituted Ohanaeze Ndigbo Caretaker Committee be established to run the affairs of Ohanaeze Ndigbo from the 10th of January 2021.
“We convened once again on the 13th January 2021 to review the Ohanaeze Ndigbo parallel elections that took place on the 9th and the 10th of January 2021.
“Most organisations that constitute Global Igbo Leaders have representatives in the Chief Gary Enwo-Igariwey’s led Ohanaeze Electoral Committee as well as voting delegates (who of course did not vote).
“The reports provided to us by our respective Organisation representatives on the 10th January 2021 Ohanaeze Ndigbo’s election showed that the procedures and guidelines for Ohaneze Ndigbo General Elections as enshrined in the Organization’s Constitution were neither followed nor adhered to.
“After reviewing the reports from our representatives including accounts received from the candidates to the elections and others, Global Igbo Leaders resolve:
“We believe in the sustainability, credibility and unity of Ohanaeze Ndigbo as the umbrella body of Ndigbo worldwide, thus our full desire to maintain unity in Ohanaeze in particular and in Igbo nation in general.
“We reject the outcomes of the parallel elections which were planned, designed and programmed to favour pre-selected candidates and which did not follow Ohanaeze Ndigbo’s electoral guidelines and procedures as provided in the constitution. These elections promoted division and not unity, lawlessness instead of due process, and damaged the image and integrity of Ndigbo worldwide.
“We do not recognize any of the purported elected Ohanaeze Executives from any of the parallel elections.
“We, therefore, align with the decisions and plans of Concerned Imeobi Members and we urge them (Concerned Imeobi Members) to immediately set up Ohanaeze Ndigbo Caretaker Committee to first bring unity, and to subsequently set up Electoral Committee to conduct a credible, free and fair election that will follow due process.”
