KINGSLEY EBERE
In a significant development in the ongoing leadership dispute within Ohanaeze Ndigbo Lagos State, the Chairman of the State Electoral Committee, Mr. Cally Odoemenam, has formally announced his withdrawal from the court cases relating to the April 6, 2026 election.
In a letter dated November 8, 2026, addressed to Chuks Nnalugha & Co, Mr. Odoemenam stated that his decision followed consultations with principal members of his electoral committee.
The letter, a copy of which was made available to http://P.M.EXPRESS and circulating on the social media, reads in part: “This is to notify you that I, Cally Odoemenam, the State Chairman of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Lagos Electoral Committee, after due consultation with my principal committee members do hereby, withdraw from the court cases in respect of the Ohanaeze election which we conducted on April 6, 2026.”
The election, conducted on April 6, 2026, produced Chief Leonard Okafor (Oba Ojoto) as President, alongside other elected executives.
More significantly, the Electoral Committee Chairman acknowledged that the conduct of the election on April 6 was in error, following the discovery that it violated a subsisting court order.
The letter added: “Furthermore, it has been brought to our attention that the conduct of the election on April 6, 2026 was in error as it violated a subsisting order by a court.”
The letter formally communicates his decision to withdraw his submissions in respect of the ongoing court proceedings.
Copies were also forwarded to Senator John A. Mbata, President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, and the General Election Committee in Enugu.
The development raises fresh questions about the circumstances surrounding the April 6 election, particularly the implications of proceeding with an electoral exercise despite a subsisting judicial order.
It also introduces an important development into the ongoing efforts by the national leadership to establish the facts surrounding the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Lagos leadership dispute.
While the withdrawal does not, by itself, determine the legal status of the election or settle the pending cases, the Electoral Committee Chairman’s acknowledgment of an error in the conduct of the exercise is a significant development that cannot be ignored.
The development is coming days after the State Executive Council (SEC) of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Lagos State Chapter, announced the cancellation of the Oto-Awori LGA election and the suspension of further LGA/LCDA elections across the 57 LGAs and LCDAs in the state.
In that directive dated November 2, 2026, and signed by the State President, Chief Leonard Okoafor, and the State Secretary, Comrade Mike Orji, the SEC said the suspension became necessary to allow for complete inclusion and to ensure lasting peace, unity and one indivisible Ohanaeze Ndigbo in Lagos State.
The SEC had also warned that any election conducted in violation of its directive without a duly signed Undertaking / Peace Agreement by stakeholders would be null, void and of no effect.
The attention now shifts to the national leadership and the courts to address the outstanding issues in accordance with the constitution of Ohanaeze Ndigbo and the rule of law.
The facts are gradually emerging, and institutional accountability must prevail.
As at the time of filing this report, Chief Leonard Okafor and the other parties involved had yet to issue an official response to the withdrawal letter.
Efforts to get their reactions were still ongoing.
http://P.M.EXPRESS will continue to monitor developments in the matter and bring updates as they unfold.