The Igbo Mandate Congress (IMC) has publicly rejected the results of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo President General election held recently in Enugu. According to the group, southeast governors manipulated the election process to ensure Senator John Azuta Mbata emerged as the leader of the pan-Igbo socio-cultural organization.
Rev. Obinna Akukwe, Director-General of IMC, shared in a statement that the election venue was kept confidential until the morning of the event. Delegates were only informed hours before the election that it would be held at the Old Governors Lodge in Enugu. Security personnel, including police and DSS officials, reportedly managed access to the venue, relying on delegate lists approved by the governors.
IMC accused the governors of controlling the delegate selection process, ensuring only loyalists were included. Delegates were reportedly paid loyalty fees, with amounts ranging from hundreds of thousands to millions of naira, depending on their status. These payments were allegedly made through electronic transfers at the Ohanaeze Secretariat and Old Governors Lodge.
The IMC claimed it had warned earlier about plans to manipulate the election. Despite this, certain candidates were misled into thinking they had a fair chance. Some, like Mike Okiro, were pressured to withdraw their candidacy. Okiro, after initially pulling out, later appeared for screening and urged his supporters to await a court ruling that might allow him to participate.
The group has urged Igbo stakeholders to take action and prevent politicians, particularly governors, from interfering in Ohanaeze Ndigbo’s affairs. IMC stressed that the organization plays a critical role in the unity and development of the Igbo people and should not be influenced by politics.
Adding to the controversy, two different factions of the organization have separately announced different candidates as the new president general. One faction declared Dim Uche Nnam Okwukwu as the winner, while the other announced Chief Jackson Omenazu.
The situation has sparked widespread debate, with many calling for transparency and reforms in the organization’s election process.
