By PAMELA EBOH, Awka

A group known as Igbo Agenda Dialogue (IAD) on Wednesday, announced plans to host the first-ever Igbo Political Summit in Enugu, in the first quarter of 2026.

The group revealed this during its second meeting held at Chelsea Hotel, Abuja, under the leadership of Chief (Dr.) Chekwas Okorie, Ojeozi Ndigbo, who presided over the session.

An eight-point communiqué signed by the duo of Chief (Dr.) Chekwas Okorie, Convener, Jonathan Elendu, Executive Secretary respectively, explained that the Summit will feature the formal unveiling of the First Igbo Political Charter, a document intended to articulate the political aspirations, rights, and responsibilities of the Igbo nation within Nigeria.

It said: "To ensure the charter reflects collective Igbo interests, individuals, associations, and relevant stakeholders are invited to submit contributions and recommendations. Dr. Emeka Okengwu will coordinate the development process and provide guidance on submissions.”

Reviewing the previous resolutions, IAD recalled the inaugural meeting held on 27 August 2025 at the same venue, noting the enthusiasm, robust contributions, and positive reactions from Igbo communities worldwide.

It observed that the collective energy generated at the inaugural meeting reinforced the determination to build a non-partisan socio-political platform capable of uniting all Igbo unions, associations, women and youth groups, civil society organizations, and diaspora stakeholders.

On the issue of expansion of Consultations, the meeting acknowledged the wide-ranging consultations undertaken since the inaugural session, including a vibrant diaspora town hall meeting hosted by Njenje Media via Zoom on September 7, 2025, noting that participants expressed satisfaction with the growing interest in the IAD vision.

Reasserting the Igbo Demographic and Geographical Strength, the Dialogue reaffirmed that the Igbo people constitute one of the largest and most widely dispersed ethnic nationalities in Nigeria, even as participants emphasized that the Igbo have no justification for political irrelevance or acceptance of disrespect from any part of the country going forward.

Under the caption, Historical Context of Marginalization, the meeting noted with concern the long-standing political and structural disadvantages imposed on the Igbo since the end of the Nigeria–Biafra war in 1970.

It reeled out the disadvantages to include, Disparities in state creation that left the Southeast with five states instead of six or seven like other zones, Unequal allocation of Local Government Areas (95 in the Southeast vs. 188 in the Northwest) and Boundary adjustments that reduced Igbo landmass and transferred major oil-bearing areas to neighbouring states.

IAD noted that the actions were identified as systemic attempts to weaken the Southeast economically and politically.

Harping on the need to shift from lamentation to political action, the Dialogue resolved that rather than continue lamentations, the Igbo must pursue coordinated political action within the framework of Nigeria’s existing constitutional order.

It stated that given the repeated failures to achieve restructuring through national engagement since 1999, it has agreed that, "The Igbo must take their destiny into their own hands by exercising their democratic power."

On the Roadmap to 2027 and Beyond, IAD resolved that all eligible Igbo people must actively participate in future electoral processes, beginning with the 2027 general election.

It identified Unity of purpose and mass political participation as key strategies to “re-draw the political map of Nigeria” and restore dignity and equitable representation to the Igbo nation.

The Dialogue further adopted as a major resolution the commitment to present the above political mobilisation strategy to the forthcoming Igbo Political Summit for formal endorsement as a central pillar of the Igbo Political Charter.

The meeting however concluded with renewed dedication to the collective Igbo cause, as participants expressed confidence that, with unity, faith, and political vigilance, the persistent challenges of marginalization will be addressed to the glory of God.

Meanwhile, the Convener, Okorie used meeting to reaffirm his public declaration of complete disengagement from partisan politics, emphasizing that the neutrality of leadership is essential for the credibility and unity of the IAD project.

• PHOTO, From left, Chief Emma Ibediro, Prof. Vitalis Orikeze AJUMBE, Chief Mike Ejiofor, Chief Chekwas Okorie, Prof. Sam Amadi, Chief Mrs. Ifeyinwa Ezenwa the ongoing Igbo Agenda Dialogue taking place at Chelsea hotel Abuja, Wednesday, November 19, 2025