Ohanaeze Ndigbo Lagos calls for Unity, reconciliation, credible election

By Oguadimma Chisom

Ohanaeze Ndigbo Lagos Chapter has called for unity, reconciliation and adherence to the organisation’s constitution as efforts intensify to resolve the leadership crisis rocking the group.

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The stakeholders made the call on Saturday during the General Assembly Meeting of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Lagos Chapter held at the Old School Hall, National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.

The meeting, which was convened to deliberate on issues affecting the welfare, unity and progress of Ndigbo in Lagos, also focused on the disputed leadership election, the role of the organisation’s national leadership and the need for peaceful coexistence between Ndi Igbo and their host communities.

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Speaking at the gathering, the President of the Anambra State Town Union and Vice President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Lagos State, Chief Amechi Ebeledike, popularly known as Ikedinigwu, said the meeting was organised to bring members together and provide clarity on developments within the organisation.

Ebeledike said the gathering was also intended to address misinformation and discourage divisions among members.

“The intention is to ensure that people are gathered and people are fed with the truth,” he said, while stressing the need for equity, fairness and unity.

Election due in 2026

Ebeledike, who spoke on the leadership structure of the organisation, said he would not describe the disagreement within the Lagos chapter as a factional crisis.

He explained that the constitution of Ohanaeze Ndigbo provided a structure for leadership and noted that, as President of the Anambra State Town Union, he became Vice President of the Lagos chapter in line with the organisation’s constitutional arrangement.

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He said the tenure of the executive elected in 2022 had elapsed, making a fresh election due in 2026.

According to him, the current leadership was not seeking an extension of its tenure but was working towards creating the necessary conditions for a credible election.

“The tenure of the executive that came on board in 2022 expired, and we don’t want any tenure elongation. All we are planning now is to prepare the ground to have a very credible election,” he said.

Ebeledike added that any election conducted in the Lagos chapter must be authorised and supervised by the global leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide.

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He described the current arrangement as an acting leadership put in place to prepare the ground for the election and prevent a leadership vacuum.

The stakeholder expressed optimism that efforts to restore unity were yielding results, noting that the presence of members and leaders at the meeting demonstrated a willingness to work together.

“When there is peace and unity, nobody will talk about war,” he added.

Also speaking, the Secretary of the Committee on the Regularisation of Igbo Diaspora Traditional Titles and Leadership, Prince Ibochi, said the disputed election conducted in Lagos had been declared null and void by the President General and Global Executive Council of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide.

Ibochi alleged that the election was conducted despite a subsisting court order and contrary to an earlier directive from the global body

that elections in branches, particularly Lagos and Abuja, should not be conducted without collaboration with the national leadership.

He said a Yaba High Court order issued on March 31, 2026, restrained the conduct of the election, but alleged that an election was nevertheless held on April 6.

Ibochi argued that the Lagos chapter could not conduct an election contrary to the directive of the global body and expect the outcome to be recognised.

He likened the situation to a political party, saying a state chapter could not conduct an election against the directive of its national leadership and expect the national body to recognise the outcome.

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According to him, the President General remains the head of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide and his directives should be respected.

Reconciliation not ruled out

Despite his criticism of the disputed election, Ibochi said reconciliation with members of the opposing camp remained possible.

He said the President General had identified reconciliation as one of the steps towards resolving the crisis.

“Reconciliation can never be closed. These recalcitrant fellows are our brothers, and any time they have a change of heart, of course they will be absorbed,” he said.

Ibochi said Ohanaeze Ndigbo was too broad an organisation to permanently exclude members, adding that all Igbo people had a place within the organisation.

He, however, maintained that members must respect the constitution, court orders and the established leadership structure.

Ibochi cautions against disrespect for host communities

Ibochi also called on Ndi Igbo living outside the South-East to respect the traditional institutions and leadership of their host communities.

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He disclosed that he serves as Secretary of the Committee on the Regularisation of Igbo Diaspora Traditional Titles and Leadership, a committee established by the South East Council of Traditional Rulers to address the proliferation of Igbo traditional titles and coronations outside Igbo land.

He cautioned against situations where individuals assume traditional titles in host communities and subsequently challenge or disrespect existing traditional rulers.

“You cannot come into a place where you have been given a conducive environment to thrive and do your business, an enabling environment for that matter, and you are prospering. And then you go ahead to disrespect host community traditional leaders,” he said.

‘Lagos has given us an enabling environment’

The stakeholder urged Ndi Igbo to build stronger relationships with their host communities and avoid actions that could create tension, particularly during political seasons.

He noted that many Igbo families had established homes, businesses and careers outside the South-East, while their children attended schools and grew up in those communities.

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“We cannot be here. Our children are here. We thrive here. They go to school here. We do our business here,” he said.

Ibochi urged Igbo residents to reciprocate the hospitality of their host communities by respecting their laws and traditional institutions.

He added that through the committee he serves, efforts were ongoing to ensure that traditional rulers of host communities were respected and appropriately engaged on issues affecting community harmony.