Court Thwarts Okiro’s Ambition To Become Ohanaeze President

The bid of a former Inspector General of Police, Mike Okiro, to become the President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo has hit the rock as a State High Court sitting in Enugu has issued an interim injunction restraining apex Igbo socio-political group Ohanaeze Ndigbo from entertaining his candidacy for the January 10 election.

This followed a motion filed by Chimenu Amadi for himself and on behalf of the Indigenous Igbos of Rivers State asking the court to stop Okiro from contesting the Presidency of Ohanaeze Ndigbo because he’s an indigene of Imo State and only indigenes of Rivers State are eligible to aspire for the said position.

The court gave an interim injunction restraining Okiro on the grounds of ineligibility with particular reference to his state of origin pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction.

The court also issued an interim injunction giving a go-ahead to the Nze Ozichukwu-Chukwu constituted committee to conduct the election into the office of the president general of the apex Igbo socio-cultural group slated for January 10, 2025, and also restraining some chieftains of the group from interfering or disrupting the election.

According to the allegations filed by Aloy Ejimakor against the Ohanaeze Ndigbo chieftains, Chidi Ibe, Okechukwu Isiguzolo and Richard Ozubu, known as the 5th to 7th Respondents, there is a calculated attempt to sow discord, disharmony, lawlessness and insecurity; 5th to Aloys Ejimakoh’s allegations against Chidi Ibe, Okechukwu Isiguzolo and Richard Ozubu, known as the 7th Respondents, they intend to constitute a parallel organization without lawful authority and to violate the constitution of the group by making the contest for the presidency open and free.

There is also a calculated attempt to sow the seeds of discord, disharmony, lawlessness and insecurity, according to Article 11, the method of election of the presidency should be a rotation between the Ibo speakers of Delta and Rivers States and the Ibo language states.

However, the court has issued a temporary restraining order to maintain the status quo until the motion for a preliminary injunction is heard.On January 10, Ohanaeze Ndigo will hold elections for the next chairman, following the expiration of the term of the late Emmanuel Iwananwu. Iwananwu, who died a few months ago, will be succeeded by Fidelis Ojichukwu, who will oversee the Ohanaeze Group’s affairs until January 10, 2025.