Igbo Mandate Congress Rejects Ohaneze Ndigbo Election Results, Accuses Governors of Manipulation
The Igbo Mandate Congress (IMC) has rejected the outcome of the recent Ohaneze Ndigbo presidential election, accusing Southeast governors of manipulating the process that led to the election of Senator John Azuta Mbata as the new President General of the pan-Igbo socio-cultural organization.
In a statement released by its Director-General, Rev Obinna Akukwe, the group alleged that the governors conspired to keep the election venue secret, with prior warnings that they were planning to install a candidate from Rivers State.
The statement read in part: “The venue of the election was kept top secret until Friday morning when delegates were informed it would take place at the Old Governors Lodge in Enugu. At the venue, police and DSS teams were given lists of delegates, and instructions were issued not to allow anyone into the venue without being on the approved list compiled by the respective governors.”
The IMC further accused the Southeast governors of influencing the delegate lists, ensuring that their loyalists were chosen to vote in the election. The group claimed that delegates were asked to assemble at the Ohaneze Ndigbo National Headquarters, where they were given accreditation tags and paid for their loyalty, with some delegates reportedly receiving millions of naira and others receiving hundreds of thousands.
Rev. Akukwe disclosed that, based on credible information, the IMC had warned contestants and relevant stakeholders, including activists, as early as January 6 about the governors’ alleged plan to hijack the electoral process.
The group claimed that the governors’ interference was intended to prevent certain candidates from emerging as leaders of Ohaneze Ndigbo. Rev. Akukwe mentioned that there were efforts to pressure Mike Okiro to step down for Senator Mbata, although Okiro initially refused. Despite announcing his withdrawal and seeking legal redress, Okiro later appeared at the Ohaneze Secretariat and was screened by 10 p.m., asking his supporters to wait for a court judgment that would allow him to contest.
The IMC called on all Igbo stakeholders to act in defense of Ohaneze Ndigbo’s independence, urging that it remain free from political interference, particularly by governors. The group emphasized the organization’s importance to the overall development and interests of the Igbo race.
In a related development, two factional groups of the Igbo socio-cultural organization have each announced a candidate to succeed Fidelis Ozichukwu Chukwu as the next President General. The groups have separately declared Dim Uche Nnam Okwukwu and Chief Jackson Omenazu as their choices for the position.
