Military Stops Chief Sunday Udeh From Coronation of Chieftaincy Title Inside Barrack

KINSLEY EBERE 

The leadership of the Igbo Speaking Community in Lagos has stopped a planned coronation of chieftaincy titles allegedly being organised by Chief Sunday Udeh inside the Armed Forces Resettlement Centre, AFRSC, Oshodi, Lagos State.

The planned event, which was scheduled for 20th September, 2026, was reportedly to involve the installation of about 46 traditional titles, including those connected to the disputed Obi of Lagos and Eze Ndigbo of Lagos titles.

This was contained in an urgent petition dated 18th September, 2026, addressed to the Commandant, Armed Forces Resettlement Centre, Oshodi, Lagos, by the President-General, Executive Council and General Assembly of the Igbo Speaking Community in Lagos.

The petition was signed by the new President-General, Chief Chukwudi Gift Chinye, and the Secretary General, Chief Kalu Joshua Nnanna, on behalf of the Igbo Speaking Community in Lagos, with RC: 11534.

According to the petitioners, Chief Sunday Udeh no longer has the authority to organise or represent any programme as an official event of the Igbo Speaking Community in Lagos.

They stated that Chief Sunday Udeh was removed as President-General following a Vote of No Confidence passed at the General Assembly of the community on 5th September, 2026, after which Chief Chukwudi Gift Chinye emerged as the new President-General.

The petitioners informed the Commandant that the proposed event has already been cancelled by the recognised leadership of the Igbo Speaking Community in Lagos and should not be allowed to hold under the name of the community.

They expressed concern that the proposed programme allegedly involves the installation of approximately 46 traditional titles, including titles connected with the disputed “Obi of Lagos” and “Eze Ndigbo of Lagos” matters, which they said are subject to proceedings before the Lagos State High Court.

The leadership said they were deeply concerned that the use of a military facility for such an event could inadvertently give the impression of institutional endorsement of a disputed community event and could create misunderstanding or tension between the Igbo community and their Yoruba host community in Lagos.

The petition reads in part: “We are particularly concerned by information that the proposed programme allegedly involves the installation of approximately 46 traditional titles, including titles connected with the disputed ‘Obi of Lagos’ and ‘Eze Ndigbo of Lagos’ matters. Issues relating to these matters are also the subject of proceedings before the Lagos State High Court.”

The community leadership therefore appealed to the Commandant to decline the use of the Armed Forces Resettlement Centre event hall or any of its facilities for the proposed event.

They also requested that the name or authority of the Igbo Speaking Community in Lagos should not be used to legitimise an event not authorised by its present leadership.

The petitioners further urged the Commandant to consider the possible security and community-relations implications of permitting the proposed traditional-title installation ceremony and, where necessary, liaise with appropriate security authorities to ensure the matter is handled peacefully and lawfully.

They said the petition was made solely in the interest of peace, public order, community harmony and the continued cordial relationship between the Igbo and Yoruba communities in Lagos.

Following the petition, sources said the military authorities intervened and stopped the use of the barracks facility for the coronation, to avoid any breakdown of law and order and to maintain neutrality in the community leadership dispute.

As at the time of filing this report, Chief Sunday Udeh has not publicly responded to the allegations contained in the petition.