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Crisis rocks Ohanaeze Ndigbo as two factions claim presidency
Mbata is an imposter, says Omenazu

A deepening leadership crisis has engulfed Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the apex socio-cultural organization representing the Igbo people of Nigeria, as two factions lay claim to the presidency of the group.
The controversy stems from two separate elections held in January 2025, which produced conflicting results and sparked allegations of illegality, moral impropriety, and financial inducement.
Dr. Jackson Omenazu, a long-standing member of Ohanaeze Ndigbo and chairman of the Ohanaeze Elders Council for Rivers and Bayelsa States, was elected as President General on January 6, 2025, in an election conducted by the Prince Dr. Richard Ozobu-led Ohanaeze Ndigbo Election Committee.
Omenazu’s election was described as historic, marking the first time an indigenous Igbo from Rivers State has been elected to the position since the end of the Nigerian Civil War.
However, just four days later, on January 10, 2025, Senator Mbata Azuta, a former senator representing Rivers East Senatorial District, was declared the winner of a parallel election held in Enugu State.
This election was attended by Southeast governors and other prominent leaders, but Omenazu has dismissed it as illegal and morally wrong.
In an exclusive interview with an online news website, News Band, Dr. Omenazu vehemently rejected the legitimacy of Senator Mbata’s election, describing it as a selection orchestrated by a group of elites who have held Ohanaeze Ndigbo “spellbound” for years.
He argued that the process violated the organization’s constitution and procedures, stating, “The election that produced Mbata is illegal because Ohanaeze has their procedures when it comes to election.
“They have their constitution, and those who supervised the election last Friday do not have the backing of the people.”
Omenazu also questioned Mbata’s credentials, pointing out that the senator has never been an active member of Ohanaeze Ndigbo.
“Mbata was never a member of Ohanaeze. I have been the chairman of Ohanaeze Elders Council for Rivers and Bayelsa for 15 years. I never saw Mbata before, neither in Ohanaeze Imeobi nor the General Assembly,” he said.
Omenazu further accused Mbata of buying the presidency with money, alleging that delegates at the Enugu convention were given N100,000 each for accommodation as a means of inducing their support.
In contrast, he emphasized that the delegates who elected him on January 6 paid for their own transportation and accommodation, viewing it as a contribution to the growth of the organization.
“In the election that produced me as Ohanaeze PG, delegates who attended the convention singlehandedly paid for their transportation and accommodation fees. They told me point blank that it was part of their contribution to help the socio-cultural organization grow,” Omenazu stated.
Senator Mbata has yet to publicly respond to Omenazu’s allegations.
However, Omenazu made it clear that he would not recognize Mbata’s leadership, describing the question of whether he would do so as “derogatory.”
He asserted, “When I’m telling you that I’m the bonafide President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, you are here asking me whether I will recognize illegality? Who does that!”
Omenazu also dismissed the possibility of peace talks with Mbata, stating that if such talks were necessary, he should be the one to initiate them.
“I have the superior mandate. I will send that invitation and plead with him as a senior brother to go home. He has never been a member of Ohanaeze. I will tell him to start attending Ohanaeze meetings so that next time we can support his ambition,” he said.
*Legal Battle Looms
When asked if he would be willing to go to court if Mbata’s faction challenged his leadership, Omenazu expressed readiness to defend his mandate.
“Of course, we will go to court. The court doesn’t belong to Senator Mbata or Jackson Omenazu. When we get there, the court will sit and listen to us, and a sound judgment will be delivered at the end of the day,” he said.
Omenazu’s election on January 6 was hailed as a historic moment for the Igbo people of Rivers State, reversing what he described as long-standing injustices.
In his acceptance speech, he vowed to safeguard Ohanaeze Ndigbo from political manipulation and focus on issues affecting the Igbo community, including insecurity, the release of Nnamdi Kanu, and the inclusion of ethnicity and religion in the 2025 census.
“The era of using our revered organization as a pawn in the political chess game is over.
“Ohanaeze Ndigbo is reaffirmed as the apex socio-cultural organization representing the entirety of the Igbo people. Our focus shall pivot decisively toward issues that directly benefit our communities and enhance our collective progress,” Omenazu added.
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