A State High Court in Enugu has issued an interim injunction barring the apex Igbo socio-political group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, from considering the candidacy of former Inspector General of Police, Mike Okiro, for the office of President-General in the upcoming January 10 election.
The injunction follows a motion filed by Chimenu Amadi, representing the Indigenous Igbos of Rivers State, seeking to prevent Okiro from contesting, citing his origins from Imo State. The motion argued that only indigenes of Rivers State are eligible to vie for the position of President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo.
The court granted an interim injunction restraining Okiro on the grounds of ineligibility due to his state of origin, pending the resolution of the motion for an interlocutory injunction.
Additionally, the court authorized the Nze Ozichukwu-Chukwu-led committee to proceed with organizing the election for the President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo on January 10, 2025. The court also issued an order preventing certain chieftains of the group from interfering with or disrupting the election process.
A separate motion filed by Aloy Ejimakor against Ohanaeze Ndigbo chieftains Chidi Ibe, Okechukwu Isiguzoro, and Richard Ozubu (respondents 5th to 7th) alleged that these individuals were attempting to undermine the group’s constitution by promoting discord and lawlessness.
According to the motion, they sought to disrupt the election and turn the race for the presidency into a free-for-all, disregarding the established rotational system outlined in Article 11 of the group’s constitution, which mandates that the presidency rotate among the Igbo states and Igbo-speaking regions of Delta and Rivers states.
The court ordered that the status quo be maintained until the hearing of the motion for an interlocutory injunction.
Ohanaeze Ndigbo is set to elect its next President-General on January 10, following the passing of the late Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu. Iwuanyanwu’s tenure ended with his death a few months ago, after which Fidelis Ozichukwu temporarily assumed leadership of the group until the election.
