Ohanaeze: National Body Will Conduct Election in Lagos State – Says Chief Ozonweke

CHUKA UBAH 

The Coordinator of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Southwest, Chief Evarestus Ozonweke, popularly known as Onowu, has stated that the national body of Ohanaeze Ndigbo will conduct the election to elect new executives for the Lagos State chapter.

P.M.EXPRESS reports that Chief Onowu made this declaration during an interview on the current state of affairs in Ohanaeze Ndigbo Lagos State and in reaction to the purported election recently conducted by Chief Solomon Aguene.

He clarified that there is no vacuum in Ohanaeze Ndigbo Lagos State because the existing executives are still in place, as their tenure has not elapsed.

According to him, any election held outside the authority of the national body is null and void.

Chief Ozonweke (Onowu) explained that the Ohanaeze Ndigbo General Assembly is the highest ruling body of the apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, and its decision is final concerning all matters affecting Ohanaeze Ndigbo Lagos State.

He further stated that the General Assembly comprise the National Executive Committee (NEC), the Imeobi, and representatives of various chapters across the world. Once a decision is taken by that body, no individual or group can reverse it.

Speaking on procedure, Onowu noted that Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide sends formal invitations to recognized individuals or group representatives to attend General Assembly meetings. If a person or group is not recognized by the apex body, they cannot be invited.

He disclosed that during the last General Assembly meeting, Chief Linus Igbudu, himself, and Prince Ubochi were duly invited by the apex body through the National Secretariat. He stressed that such invitation was not extended to Chief Solomon Aguene and his group.

According to Onowu, the implication is clear: only those invited and recognized by the national leadership have the mandate to speak or act on behalf of Ohanaeze in official capacity. Any parallel structure lacks legitimacy under the Ohanaeze constitution.

On the way forward, he revealed that very soon the NEC will constitute an electoral committee that will come to Lagos State to conduct a credible election where new executives will emerge for the state chapter.

He also explained the process the national body will follow: before the state election, local government chapter elections will be conducted across Lagos State. Chairmen who emerge from the LGAs will then come with 10 delegates each to participate in the state executive election.

Chief Ozonweke urged Ndigbo in Lagos to remain calm and disregard any unauthorized elections, assuring them that the national body is committed to due process, transparency, and unity.

He concluded by reaffirming that Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide remains one indivisible family under one constitution. And any bylaw by chapters not approved or in contravention with the National body’s constitution is null and void.

The forthcoming election, he said, will be supervised by the national leadership to ensure that peace, order, and legitimacy are restored to Ohanaeze Ndigbo Lagos State.