CHUKA UBAH
Following the expiration of the court consent judgment and the decision by the Apex Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Ime Obi, to nullify the Lagos State election, former President, Chief Solomon Aguene, may likely hand over to Chief Robert Obasi as substantive General Secretary.
This position was put forward by Chief Kalu Uguru, one of the leaders of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Lagos State chapter, while reacting to the latest developments.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that Chief Uguru made the submission while addressing the leadership vacuum created by the recent decisions. He stressed that with Aguene’s tenure having elapsed under the terms of the consent judgment, the organization cannot afford to operate without a recognized authority.
Uguru advised Aguene to formally hand over to Chief Obasi, who currently heads the secretariat and whose tenure as General Secretary of Ohanaeze remains valid and subsisting. He noted that unlike Aguene, Obasi’s mandate has not expired.
He explained further that the court judgment, which sustained Aguene’s leadership, has now elapsed and until the National body conducts a fresh election, Obasi is the most constitutionally placed officer to hold the reins. This, he said, would prevent a dangerous vacuum in the administration of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Lagos State.
Chief Uguru also called on Aguene to apologize to Ndigbo for the role the consent judgment played in throwing the Lagos chapter into years of crisis. He argued that the judgment destabilized the organization and created factions that hindered unity and progress.
Expressing relief, Uguru thanked God and commended the National Executive Committee (NEC) for doing the right thing by cancelling the election. He accused Aguene of parading the consent judgment without being properly sworn in, contrasting him with Chief Sunday Ossai who he claimed, traded his mandate.
Uguru warned that further court matters are still pending and may not favour Aguene in the coming days. He advised him to retrace his steps, call Obasi and hand over voluntarily, saying such a move could earn him a soft landing from stakeholders.
Since the news of the cancellation broke, there has been mixed reactions across Lagos and beyond. While some members welcome the NEC’s intervention as long overdue, others remain uncertain about the next steps and the timeline for stability.
The decision to nullify the election was taken during a meeting of the Apex Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Ime Obi, held in Enugu State and presided over by the President Worldwide, Senator John Mbata. The meeting had in attendance prominent Igbo leaders from across Nigeria and the diaspora.
At that meeting, it was resolved that the National body will conduct the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Lagos election in June 2026, effectively voiding the election earlier organized by Aguene. Chief Evarestus Ozonweke (Onowu), the National Coordinator of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Southwest, confirmed the resolution, citing the existing constitution, which empowers the National body to organize elections in all chapters through its committee.