Senator John Mbata Committee Collapses As Lagos Ohaneze Rejects Committee

In a press release dated 12th November, 2026, and signed by the Secretary, Comrade Mike Orji, the State Executive Council of Ohaneze Ndigbo Lagos State said the committee was not constituted by the legitimate leadership of the chapter and was not constituted in consultation with major stakeholders.

The council listed the State Executive Council, traditional rulers, town union leaders, elders council, former presidents, women wing, youth wing, and the general assembly as groups it says should have been consulted. It said because that consultation did not happen, it cannot accept the committee or its findings.

The council said it will not participate in the committee, will not recognise its outcome, and will not allow the outcome to be used to decide the future of the chapter. According to the council, the decision to boycott the committee means the committee cannot function as a credible fact-finding body for Lagos.

The statement also addressed a letter written by Cally Odoemena, who served as Electoral Committee Chairman. According to the statement, Odoemena conducted the election, declared the results, signed the Certificate of Return, and participated in the swearing-in. The council said his later claim that the election was conducted in error, after 9 months, does not invalidate the election.

The council said the election held on March 29, 2026, stands, and that the leadership of President Leonard Okoafor remains in place.

The council also said elections at the LGA and LCDA levels remain suspended. It said the elections will resume after petitions received have been addressed, and after the State Executive Council has approved a new schedule. It said any election conducted outside the directive will not be recognised.

The statement said that despite the disagreements, the leadership will continue to focus on welfare, unity, insurance scheme, empowerment programmes, and its relationship with the Lagos State Government.

It called on members in Lagos State to remain calm and united, and not to attend parallel meetings.

The latest statement is the latest development in a leadership disagreement that has been building inside Ohaneze Ndigbo Lagos State for several months. Ohaneze Ndigbo is the apex socio-cultural organisation for Igbo people, with branches in all states of Nigeria and in the diaspora. In Lagos State, which has one of the largest Igbo populations outside the South-East, the Lagos chapter plays an important role in community welfare, cultural activities, dispute resolution, and engagement with the state government.

Because of its size and influence, leadership contests in the Lagos chapter often attract wide attention, not only among members, but also among observers of Igbo community politics across Nigeria. Members say the organisation is not only a cultural body, but also a support system for traders, professionals, artisans, students, and families who live far from their home states.

For many members, the issues at stake go beyond who leads the organisation. They are concerned about how the organisation is run, how elections are conducted, how petitions are handled, and how decisions are communicated to members at the local government level. That is why the disagreement over the fact-finding committee has become a major talking point in town union meetings, market associations, and WhatsApp groups across Lagos.

According to the State Executive Council, a committee set up to look into disputes inside the organisation should be constituted with the involvement of all major stakeholders. The council listed the State Executive Council, traditional rulers, town union leaders, elders council, former presidents, women wing, youth wing, and the general assembly as groups that should have been consulted. The council said because that consultation did not happen, it cannot accept the committee or its findings.

The council also said the disagreement should not distract the organisation from its core work. In its statement, it listed welfare, prosperity of members, unity, insurance scheme, empowerment programmes, and good relationship with the Lagos State Government as its priorities. It said those programmes will continue despite the disagreement.

The statement also touched on the LGA and LCDA elections, which many members have been waiting for. The council said the elections remain suspended until petitions are addressed. It said a committee has been set up to look into the petitions, and a new schedule will be announced after that process is completed. It said the elections are expected to be held before the year runs out. Members at the grassroots level say they are watching the process closely, because LGA and LCDA leaders are the closest point of contact for most members.

The council called on members to remain calm and to avoid parallel meetings, parallel committees, or parallel letters. It said Ohaneze Ndigbo Lagos State is one, its leadership is one, and its future is bright.

As at the time of filing this report, Senator John Mbata, Everest Ozonweke and Cally Odoemena had not responded to the claims in the statement. http://P.M.EXPRESS has reached out to them for comment. This story will be updated if they respond.