No fewer than 300 delegates are expected to vote today, Friday, January 10, 2025 as the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, elects its new leadership for another four years.

The election, expected to be held at the Old Government Lodge in Enugu, would likely see a Rivers State person emerge as the group?s president-general for the first time since the zoning arrangement was introduced among the seven Igbo-speaking states that make up Ohanaeze.

While Abia State would produce the Deputy President General, Anambra State would produce the Secretary-General, Ebonyi State would produce the National Legal Adviser, Enugu State would produce the National Treasurer, and Imo State would produce the National Publicity Secretary. Each state, except Rivers and Abia, would also produce a Vice President.

Nze Fidelis Ozichukwu Chukwu, the last occupant of the President General seat, hails from Imo State. He succeeded the late Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu and the late Prof. George Obiozor, all of whom were from Imo State but died in office.

But today?s election is already riddled with challenges as a faction of the group, a few days ago, announced Jackson Omenazu as the President General with 10 others as its national executive members.

However, the incumbent President General of the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Nze Ozichukwu Fidelis Chukwu, has reaffirmed his commitment to handing over the reins of power to an indigene of Rivers State today.

Anxiety over the election peaked last night when the leading presidential candidate, former Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Mike Okiro, announced that he was stepping aside following an Enugu court order based on an allegation that he is not from Rivers State but Imo State. Okiro condemned the order, insisting that he is from Rivers State and regretting that the court did not bother to invite or hear from him before giving the order. (Based largely on a Guardian report)

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