Anambra Community Rejects ‘Illegitimate Election’ of Traditional Ruler After 12 Years Without King
- Ndiowu community members in Anambra have rejected the January 12, 2026, Igwe election as illegitimate
- Women of Ndiowu have insisted they will not recognise Chief Chibuzor Okeke‑Ifi as the community's traditional ruler
- Other aspirants also alleged that the election violated the Ndiowu Constitution and excluded women
Angry men, women, and youths of the Ndiowu community in Orumba North local government area of Anambra state have said that the town has not elected a traditional ruler to take the place of the former monarch, who joined his ancestors twelve years ago.
Source: UGC
They insisted that the election held on Monday, January 12, 2026, at the Central School, Ndiowu, which produced a US-based businessman, Chief Chibuzor Okeke-Ifi, as Igwe elect, was not recognised by the community.
The election organisers had declared Okeke-Ifi as the Igwe elect after securing a total of 506 votes.
Other co-contestants, who boycotted the election over alleged irregularities, were allotted the following scores: Barr Ugochukwu Nwankwo, 2 votes; Magistrate Onyeka Kanu, 2 votes; Mr Onyeka Ekwueme Okafor, 2 votes; and Mr Obumneme Okeke, 0 votes.
Present at the venue of the election were representatives of Anambra state Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, the Mayor of Orumba North LGA, Hon. Casmir Nwafor, and a former member of the state House of Assembly from the area, Hon. Afoka.
After announcing the results, the chairman of the electoral committee, Hon. William Alex Omenukor, who is the Councillor representing Ndiowu ward, congratulated Chief Okeke-Ifi for emerging victorious and urged others to accept defeat in good faith.
However, aggrieved members of the community took to the streets, carrying placards wherein they registered their displeasure. The demonstrators claimed that they were not aware of any election in the community.
Ndiowu stakeholders speak on election
In an exclusive interview with Legit.ng, leader of the women's group, who gave her name as Mrs Ifeoma Omenukor, said that women of Ndiowu would not recognise Chief Okeke-Ifi as their traditional ruler, if the Charles Soludo's government finally issues him a certificate of recognition.
She said:
"They said that women of this community will not participate in electing a traditional ruler - something we have been doing over the years. We told them that it is not acceptable to us, but they did not listen to us."
"We told them to shift this election to April 2026 to give time for adequate preparation, sensitisation, and settlement of grey areas before the election, but they refused to listen. We told them that the man they're imposing on us as Igwe is not acceptable to us because he has spent all his life abroad. They just brought him back last week to impose him on us. So, women have resolved that we shall not recognise him as a traditional ruler."
Source: UGC
Spokesperson of the menfolk, Mazi Uchenna Iloh, who also spoke with Legit.ng, condemned the process, insisting that what they did "inside a church premises was a knighthood initiation, not Igweship election of Ndiowu community."
He said,
"We were planning for the Igweship election in Ndiowu, but we had a lot of unresolved issues pertaining to the process, because some elements set our constitution aside because of their personal interests."
"The perpetrators of this crime against the Ndiowu people also disenfranchised our women. We needed time to resolve these issues, so we demanded that the election be shifted to April 2026, to enable us to iron out issues."
"We gathered at the town hall to discuss these disturbing issues, including all the aspirants for the election, not knowing that Chief Okeke-Ifi and some visitors went to a primary school inside St. Lawrence Anglican Church and said that they had done the election for Igwe Ndiowu, and Chief Okeke-Ifi won."
"For us, they've just initiated him into the knighthood of the church. Because they cannot hold the Igwe Ndiowu election there. When the Anambra state government is set to conduct the Igwe election for Ndiowu, they should communicate with us through our President General, then we plan how to do it, and it must be inside our town hall, as provided by the constitution."
Aspirants reject election; Igwe pledges unity
Other aspirants: Onyeka Kanu and Onyeka Ekwueme Okafor, who joined the protest, told Legit.ng correspondent that any election not conducted in line with the provisions of the Ndiowu Constitution will not be recognised by the community.
They insisted that disenfranchising women of the community, and choosing secret ballot against option-A4, is not in any way what their constitution provided for.
Saying that they're not desperate to become traditional rulers, the duo wondered why any human being would go against his people to attain a position where he will still preside over the same people.
Meanwhile, in an exclusive interview with Legit.ng, the Igwe elect, Chief Chibuzor Okeke-Ifi, thanked his people for the confidence reposed in him by electing him as their traditional ruler.
He said that his priorities will be to unite his people and develop the community, focusing principally on the education of sons and daughters of the town.
He also thanked the Anambra state government for making sure that the election proceeded as scheduled and ended in peace.
Anambra priest predicts uncertain 2026 for Nigeria
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that Fr. Ebube Muonso, a prominent priest and Spiritual Director of Holy Ghost Adoration Ministry in Anambra, warned of uncertainties ahead for Nigeria in 2026, saying only God can save the nation.
The cleric spoke during a Christmas outreach in Nkwelle Ezunaka, urging leaders to rule with love and citizens to embrace peace, faith, and care for one another amid looming challenges.
He also celebrated the festive season through philanthropy, calling on Nigerians to uphold the love of Christ and prioritise unity as the country faces an unpredictable year.
Proofreading by James Ojo, copy editor at Legit.ng.
Source: Legit.ng
