By Izunna Okafor, Awka
It was a scenic moment of expression on Monday as members of Ndiowu Community in Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State stormed the Anambra State Government House, popularly known as the Light House, Awka, to protest what they described as an illegal and imposed process in the purported selection of a new traditional ruler for the community.
The protesters, drawn from the four traditional quarters of Ndiowu (comprising Udoada, Ufere, Okoro and Uche quarters) alongside women and youth groups, expressed strong opposition to the recent declaration of one Chief Chibuzor Okekeifi, a United States-based business mogul, as the Igwe-elect of Ndiowu Community. The declaration, according to them, followed no valid election and violated the community’s constitution, customs and established rotational succession arrangement.
Recall that Chief Okekeifi was recently announced as Igwe-elect to replace the former monarch, HRH Eze O.O. Udeh, who passed away in 2015, thereby ending the eleven-year vacancy on the Ndiowu royal throne. However, the protesters insist that the process leading to his emergence was flawed, unconstitutional and imposed against the collective will of the people.
Protesting against what they termed the “illegal selection,” the demonstrators stormed the Government House chanting satirical songs and flaunting placards with different inscriptions, such as “Ndiowu Traditional Ruler Stool Is Not for Sale,” “Say No to Imposed Election: Listen to Us Now,” “Respect Our Right to Choose,” “Ndiowu Demands Transparency in Terms of Election,” and “No Election Held on January 12,” among others.
Addressing newsmen on behalf of the protesters, the Chairman of Ndiowu Four Traditional Quarters, Maazị Uchenna Iloh, accused officials of the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Community Affairs, as well as the Chairman of Orumba North Local Government, of acting outside their constitutional powers in the preparation and purported conduct of the traditional stool election.
He stated that contrary to the claims, no election was conducted on January 12, 2026, at the Ndiowu Town Hall, the only constitutionally recognized venue for such an exercise. According to him, what transpired amounted to a gross abuse of procedure, deliberate exclusion of critical stakeholders and an attempt to impose a predetermined outcome on the community.
Providing further details of the events, grievances and demands of the community, Maazị Iloh explained that following due process, the Ndiowu Town Union had earlier commenced preparations to fill the vacant traditional stool through a screening committee in line with the Ndiowu Traditional Rulers Constitution (2024, as amended). He alleged that the Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Community Affairs initially fixed November 15, 2025, for the election but later cancelled it, citing concerns relating to diaspora contestants, stakeholder engagement and short notice.
He further disclosed that on December 24, 2025, the Commissioner issued another letter fixing January 10, 2026, for the election and inviting stakeholders to a consultative meeting scheduled for January 6, 2026. However, he said the President General of Ndiowu Town Union, Mazi Sunday Enemuo, allegedly received the letter belatedly on January 2 via WhatsApp, leaving insufficient time for adequate community mobilization.
According to the protesters, it was agreed at the January 6 consultative meeting that a Community General Assembly should be convened on January 10 to deliberate on the Commissioner’s proposal to conduct the election on January 12. The assembly, attended by over two hundred community members, representatives of the Commissioner and the Mayor of Orumba North LGA, Hon. Casmir Nwafor, unanimously resolved that the proposed date was too abrupt and should be shifted to the Easter period to allow proper planning and inclusive participation.
They alleged that the Commissioner’s representative and the Mayor walked out of the meeting, declaring that the election would proceed on January 12 irrespective of the community’s position. The protesters further claimed that the Commissioner unilaterally drafted election guidelines that excluded women from voting and imposed secret balloting, in direct contradiction to the community’s 2024 gazetted Ndiowu Traditional Rulers Constitution, as amended which was signed by the Commissioner and which prescribes open ballot Option A4 and full participation of women.
Maazị Iloh also accused the Mayor of appointing his aides as electoral officials, describing the move as another violation of constitutional provisions. He emphasized that Ndiowu has, for generations, upheld a rotational succession system among the four traditional quarters and that following the death of the last monarch in 2015, Ufere Quarter, as the next in line by seniority, ought to produce the next ruler. He warned that any process that ignores this order amounts to disenfranchisement and threatens the foundation of Ndiowu’s traditional governance.
Highlighting their demands from the state government, the protesters, urged the Governor to constitute an independent inquiry into the conduct of the Commissioner and the Orumba North Joint Security Force, as well as enforce sanctions against any official found guilty of imposition of election as fraud or abuse of security.
While re-affirming that no chieftaincy election may proceed without a valid, gazetted constitution, the protesters, who described women’s exclusion and gender marginalization as illegal under both State and customary laws; further prayed the Governor to order for new date for election at the Ndiowu Town Hall, with option A4, full participation of women, youth, village heads and all eligible candidates.
Speaking on behalf of Ndiowu women, Mrs. Virginia Orji condemned what she described as the deliberate exclusion and intimidation of women from the said voting process. She recalled that Ndiowu women, including the Umuada and Anụtaradi, played historic roles in building the Ndiowu Town Hall, maintaining peace in the community and facilitating the last succession process in 2015. She described their exclusion from voting as a direct affront to both customary law and Anambra State’s gender-inclusive governance principles.
The women further alleged that security operatives deployed on January 12 prevented them from accessing the Town Hall and manhandled some protesters, despite the fact that no election eventually held. They insisted that women’s participation in community decision-making is central to peace and harmony in Ndiowu.
Reassuring their firm loyalty to the state government and particularly to the Solution Government, the protesters, who recalled how the community massively supported the Soludo Administration in the last governorship election, stressed that their demand was not against the government but in defence of Ndiowu’s constitution, tradition and collective will. They further appealed for government’s urgent intervention to avert further escalation of the matter as well as restore trust.
Addressing the protesters on behalf of the Anambra State Government, the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Solo Chukwulobelu, acknowledged receipt of the concerns raised by them, and assured them that the government would carefully study the complaints and work towards a peaceful resolution of the crisis. He noted that the allegations raised bordered on the manner the process was handled, stakeholder exclusion and grievances expressed by women, while also stressing that government would listen to all sides.
According to the SSG, officials supervising the Ministry of Local Government were present to take note of the issues, adding that although the Commissioner was unavailable at the time, the matter would be looked into. He also appealed to the community to maintain peace and avoid any breakdown of law and order, assuring them that the Soludo administration remains committed to resolving communal disputes through dialogue, justice and due process.
He reiterated that the state government has encountered similar disputes in other communities and has consistently worked to resolve them, adding that efforts are ongoing to streamline processes and establish clearer protocols to prevent recurrent crises in community and chieftaincy matters.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with this reporter, the State Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Community Affairs, Hon. Tonycollins Nwabunwanne, debunked the people’s allegations allegations of imposition, abuse of office and unconstitutional conduct levelled against his ministry, insisting that the Ndiowu traditional ruler election process was driven largely by the community leadership itself and not by the state government.
According to the Commissioner, it was the Ndiowu Town Union leadership that formally wrote to the ministry requesting approval to conduct the election and also proposed the dates at different times. He explained that the first date communicated to his office was November 22, 2025, which later generated petitions from Ndiowu indigenes in the diaspora who complained of exclusion and inadequate timing, as many of them might not have returned for the yuletide by then.
Following these petitions, he said the Ministry intervened by engaging the town leadership, urging them to be inclusive and allow interested contestants, including those abroad who had earlier been encouraged by the community to purchase nomination forms, to participate fully in the process.
Hon. Nwabunwanne disclosed that the Ministry later agreed with the community to shift the exercise to December, tentatively fixing it around December 29 or 30, but alleged that the town leadership failed to firm up that arrangement. He said the consequent delay and complaints prompted his office to convene a stakeholders’ meeting, during which all parties, including aspirants, eventually agreed to conduct the election on January 12, 2026, a decision reached collectively in his office and not imposed by the government. He also emphasized that the Ministry does not fix election dates for communities but only works with dates proposed and agreed upon by them.
Concerning the said rotational arrangement among the quarters of the community, the Commissioner said prior to sale of form, the Chairman of Ndiowu Four Traditional Quarters, Mr. Iloh, publicly announced in the community’s WhatsApp group that anybody interested in contesting for the post should purchase form and join the race, hence making the contest open to all.
Addressing the controversy surrounding the constitution used for the exercise, the Commissioner explained that the newly drafted constitution presented by the town leadership was found to be contentious and allegedly not adopted by a general assembly, with reports that it was being challenged even in the court. He said that to avoid crisis, all parties, including the aspirants, agreed in his office to revert to the old constitution for the purpose of the election. According to him, the Ministry neither authored nor selectively enforced any constitution, adding that officials sent to monitor the process were instructed to be guided strictly by the constitution adopted by the community itself.
The Commissioner further stated that government did not disqualify any aspirant, noting that screening and disqualification issues were handled internally by committees constituted by the town union. He expressed concern over allegations that contestants were selectively screened out using disputed criteria, stressing that such actions, if proven, were decisions of the community leadership and not directives from his ministry.
He also dismissed claims that the ministry conducted a “selection,” explaining that when government officials arrived at the venue, contestants were present, arrangements were ongoing, and the Mayor was only there to observe and ensure peace. He also said that the people of the community, including the contestants, participated in the election.
On complaints about diaspora participation and the residency of the declared Igwe-elect, Hon. Nwabunwanne maintained that residence abroad does not automatically disqualify a traditional ruler, noting that some communities in Anambra and beyond have monarchs who live overseas but contribute significantly to their communities and return home frequently. He urged stakeholders and the public to assess aspirants based on their quality, character, contributions and acceptance by their people rather than assumptions about location.
While reaffirming his openness to further engagement, the Commissioner stressed that his role was that of a neutral arbiter and peace facilitator, not a partisan actor.
He, however, re-assured that the ministry remains willing to review the grievances presented and concerns raised by the protesters, act where necessary and work with all parties to ensure peace and communal harmony in Ndiowu, in line with the Solution Government’s principles; even as he further urged all sides to avoid actions capable of escalating tensions.
More photos from the protest:
