Ndiowu Residents Reaffirms Okekeife as their Validly Elected Monarch
By Chukwudi Ebele
Hundreds of indigenes of Ndiowu community in Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State on Tuesday stormed Awka, the state capital in a show of solidarity with Chief Chibuzor Okekeifi, their newly elected traditional ruler.
Okekeifi won the traditional ruler of Ndiowu community election held on January 12, 2026 with 506 valid votes to beat the four other contestants to the throne.
The protesters numbering over 500 and bearing placards and banners of various inscriptions said they were in the state capital to appeal to Governor Chukwuma Soludo to issue a certificate of return to Chief Okekeifi as truly elected traditional ruler of the community.
The match took place barely 24 hours after a group of protesters stormed the government house to demand for annulment of the election that produced Okekeifi.
Spokesperson for the protesters and Chairman of Elders Council of Ndiowu Town and Leader, Ndiowu Progressives, Bar Christian Nnabuife said the solidarity march was to thank Governor Soludo for the peaceful Igweship election and to urge him to present certificate of return to Chief Okekeifi.
He said, “We’re here to appreciate the governor for restoring peace in our town and creating conducive atmosphere for the conduct of free, fair credible election that produced our monarch”, he asserted.
Nnabuife was quick to dismiss calls for annulment of the election as academic exercise, and described those protesting the election of Okekeifi as terribly misinformed, misadvised and misguided people.
He also described the constitution they paraded as fake, insisting that the 1990 constitution approved by state government and Aguata High court remained the authentic document guiding the community.
“Ndiowu had 1990 constitution approved by government and Aguata High court, which declared that certain persons should no longer take part in election due to their dirty conduct.”
On alleged exclusion of women in the election, Nnabuihe described as sacrilege involvement of women in traditional ruler’s election.
“I stand to be corrected, there’s no community in Anambra state where women are permitted to take part in selection of traditional ruler and that’s is clearly stated in our constitution.
“A monarch is the custodian of people’s culture. It’s an abomination to involve women in such exercise. It has never happened anywhere.
“Those people who were here yesterday were terribly misinformed, misadvised and misguided. And the constitution they paraded was fake.
“A lot of them are regretting their journey yesterday. Their presence was nullity as far as majority of Ndiowu is concerned,” he stressed.
Also speaking, Womwn President General of Ndiowu town, Hon. Oby Okoli also dismissed claims by the protesters that womenfolk were disenfranchised during the election as a lie. She insisted that women don’t participate in the election of President Generals and Traditional Rulers.
“As women, we desire peace and progress for us, our children and children’s children in Ndiowu.”
Speaking on the same vein, the Youth Leader, Ndiowu Town, Mr. Sunday Kanu, also thanked Governor Soludo for providing the enabling environment and leadership support for a peaceful conduct of the Igweship election in Ndiowu.
He urged the governor not to allow few misguided elements in the community to truncate the election that was widely accepted in the community. He insists that youths of Ndiowu were solidly behind Chief Chibuzor Okekeifi as the monarch-elect.
Responding, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Dr Nwabufor Nwankwo thanked the protesters for their peaceful conduct, assuring of speedy response to their request.
Chief Dr. Boka Nwajagwu, a representative of Ndiowu in Diaspora, who participated in the solidarity march while speaking with AnambraDaily stressed the need for the state government to quickly move towards a closure of the election.
According the US-based leader, the election has come and gone and what the people of Ndiowu were looking forward to was presentation of certificate to the eze-elect.
“There is nothing anyone can do to stop that wind of change blowing across Ndiowu right now. However, what we are yearning for now is to get the (Traditional Rulership) certification from the Anambra State Government and then the work of reconciliation will start in the community.
“As soon as the government confirms that Chief Chibuzor Okekeifi is the rightful elected Traditional Ruler of Ndiowu, we will begin the process.
He appealed to those staging protests to rally behind the newly elected monarch for the greater good of Ndiowu town.
