Ohanaeze Ndigbo Strengthens Constitution, Appoints Dr. Richard Ozobu as Election Chair

The Apex Igbo socio-cultural Organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, is poised for significant transformation as it officially announces the establishment of the National Elections Committee tasked with overseeing the 2025 elections. This decisive step is initiated with the express aim of ensuring a seamless transition of leadership from Imo State to Rivers State by January 2025. This announcement is a salient consequence of an important conclave convened by the Ohanaeze Elders Council and the Concerned Statutory Imeobi Members in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, from the evening of December 17 to the afternoon of December 18, 2024. Here, we galvanized our collective commitment to the protection and enhancement of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Constitution.

We extend our profound gratitude and commendation to Ndigbo for their unwavering resolve and unity amid adversity. This unyielding spirit has been indispensable in sustaining the integrity of our constitution, fostering collaboration among diverse stakeholders, and securing Rivers State as the birthplace of the next President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo.

In accordance with Articles 10 and 11 of the 2004 Ohanaeze Constitution, we are proud to announce the meticulous formation of an 11-member Electoral Committee, under the distinguished leadership of Prince Dr. Richard Ozobu. His stellar credentials, including a background as a USA-trained Chartered Accountant, former Deputy Board Chairman of the Defunct Cooperative and Commerce Bank (CCB), as well as a long-standing member of Imeobi Ohanaeze Ndigbo since 2000, uniquely qualify him to spearhead this committee. His extensive acumen in financial management and governance will be instrumental in guiding the electoral process towards transparency, fairness, and integrity.

The committee comprises an illustrious group of scholars, professionals, and respected leaders within the Seven Igbo Speaking States including:

– Professor Chibuikeya Achoakawa as Secretary of the Committee

This eminent Committee embodies a rich reservoir of experience, wisdom, and commitment, ideally positioning them to guide Ohanaeze Ndigbo into a new epoch of authentic leadership that truly reflects the collective voices and aspirations of Ndigbo, both domestically and in the diaspora.

Ohanaeze Ndigbo unequivocally reaffirms its steadfast dedication to facilitating the astute work of this committee while ensuring their autonomy, uninhibited by external interference or coercion especially from Political elites. Our mission is resoundingly clear: to usher in a new National Executive Committee, led by a President-General hailing from Rivers State.

In a recent address, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Secretary General, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, emphatically stated, “The successful conclave of the Ohanaeze Elders and Imeobi serves as the bedrock from which we anticipate our newly appointed National Electoral team to cultivate a vibrant and effective new leadership. Our unwavering confidence in this committee is rooted in their capacity to uphold our collective aspirations, ensuring the birth of a credible leadership unmarred by impositions from the Igbo political elite, particularly the Southeast Governors.”

As we move forward on this pivotal journey of reinvigorated leadership, we earnestly implore all Igbo governors to honor the original charter of Ohanaeze Ndigbo as a socio-cultural entity.We must consciously extricate ourselves from the coiling tendrils of mere political maneuvering that have recently endangered our esteemed legacy. Disturbingly, we have observed concerted efforts by certain political actors to co-opt Ohanaeze Ndigbo for their agendas, particularly in the lead-up to the 2027 elections. This trend is not only unacceptable; it is one that we must assertively denounce. It is our solemn duty to safeguard our organization from political subversion aimed at imposing a favored candidate with nebulous affiliations to both Imo and Rivers States.

As we embark on this critical pathway towards renewed leadership, we extend a clarion call to all Igbos—both within Nigeria and across the globe—to unite in unwavering support of Ohanaeze Ndigbo’s mission. Your voices, participation, and engagement are invaluable as we collectively forge ahead to ensure the rich legacy of our organization thrives, enhancing the cultural, social, and political fabric of our great nation.

In solidarity and unyielding determination,

Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro
Secretary General
Ohanaeze Ndigbo