Anambra Community Cries Out, Demands Igweship Election Postponement
Lawrence Ndubeze, Awka
People of Ndiowu in Orumba North Local Government Area, Anambra State have cried out, demanding for the postponement of the upcoming Igweship election scheduled for January 12, 2026 in their community.
The people alleges that the election process is marred by constitutional violations, including the exclusion of women and the use of secret ballot voting.
A peaceful protest was staged in the community on Sunday, with women, youths, and elders voicing their discontent over the planned election. They alleged plan by the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon Nwabunwanne Collins to conduct Igweship election (Eze Ndiowu) against the constitution of the town on Monday, January 12th, 2026.
Addressing Journalists on Sunday, former President-General of Ndiowu Development Union (NDU), Chief Chike Emenike, appealed to Governor Chukwuma Soludo to intervene and postpone the election to Easter 2026, citing concerns over the breach of the community’s constitution.
According to him, the planned Igweship election would be contested by Barrister Ogochukwu Nwankwo, Mr Onyeka Nwafor, Onyeka Kanu, Mr Obuneme Okeke and Chief Chibuzor Okeke.
Emenike warned that failure to postpone the election could lead to a breakdown of law and order, as the community is opposed to the election being held on January 12, 2026.
He said, “We don’t want someone who based in Abuja, Lagos, Calabar or Port Harcourt to be our traditional ruler. If the State Government goes ahead with the plan to conduct the Igweship election that means they are imposing a Monarch against us and the gods of the land.
“We are peace going people, we don’t want our community to be on fire. We want Governor Soludo to urgently intervene by calling his Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Hon Tony Collins Nwabunwanne and the Executive Chairman of Orumba North Council Area, Mr Casmir to respect the wishes of Ndiowu people by shifting the election to 2026 Easter day celebration as generally agreed by the community.
“The new date will enable the community to properly inform sons and daughters of the town residing outside the state about the agreed new date.”
Also speaking, Ndiowu women leader, Lady Ifeyinwa Okafor, and youth leader, Comrade Onyeka Okeke, warned that they will boycott the election if it’s not postponed to a date allowing full community participation.
Those present at the briefing included community leaders: Umuada Ndiowu leader Mrs Ndidi Okeke, NTU Women Wing’s Mrs Oby Okoli, youth leader Mazi Ugochukwu Imoh, and village heads like Mazi Orji Sopulu (Obinagu), Mr Obum Okoli (Enumgbom), and others.
