.Say purported election by a faction did not follow the due process
By EDISON Okereke
Following the alleged emergence of Professor Eugene Ihenacho as Eze-elect of Umuakaliukwu Autonomous Community Emekuku, on Saturday, March 1, 2025, in Owerri North Local Government Area of Imo State, the people of the community yesterday dissociated themselves from the purported election, saying that it was a deceit as the due process was not followed.
The community comprises the four villages of Umuocham, Umuakuru, Akalovo, and Okwu Emeke.
Addressing journalists at the Palace of their late traditional ruler, Eze Cyril Chukwuemeka Njoku in the area, the people who were represented by their leaders expressed surprise at the development and described the purported election as unacceptable.
They condemned the actions of Nze Herbert Chikwe, who, they said parades himself as the Regent and Mr Cyril Nwaforo who claims to be the President-General, describing them as impostors whose actions are self-serving and breaching the existing peace in the community.
The people noted that their current President-General is Comrade Amb Kennedy Opara, whose election followed the due process when their late Eze was alive.
The emissaries included Ndi Oha, the Traditional Prime Minister (TPM), the Cabinet chiefs, the President-General, the woman leader, and other village leaders.
The community however expressed their unalloyed support for their Traditional Prime Minister/Regent, Sir Patrick Njoku’s abilities to carry out the process of electing the next Eze as enshrined in the constitution of the community.
The leaders took turns in voicing their support for the right process of selecting their Eze, as their custom and tradition stipulate and as is the practice across the Igboland and sued for peace among the people.
They informed that the method and the process of selecting their Eze had commenced after the completion of the mourning processes of their late Eze, saying that anybody interested in the Ezeship contest was free to do so through the normal process.
The attendance included: Oha Boniface Agoh (Head, Council of Ndi Oha), Oha Everest Nneji, Oha Erukpaeme Sampson, Sir Patrick Njoku (Regent/Traditional Prime Minister), Sir Ambrose Ejiogu, High Chief Emeka Ihenacho (Head, Eze’s Cabinet), Comrade Amb. Kennedy Opara (President-General),
Sir Emmanuel Aririguzo (Palace Secretary), Sir Paddy Obinna, Chief Jude Ajaero and Hon Maxwell Nlemadim (Umuakuru village head).
Others were Nze Gembos Onyeukwu, Chief Paulinus Mbah, Pastor Uzondu Chukwu, Mr. Ikechukwu Obichere, Ovuoh Vitalis, Mr Uchenna Njamanze, Mr Emmanuel Opara and Mrs Nnenna Opara who represented the President General of Umuakaliukwu Women Association.
