11/01/2026
Ndiowu Community Seeks Postponement Of Igwe Election To Easter Or December 2026
By Emmanuel Okonkwo (ABS News)
Ndiowu Community in Orumba North Local Government Area has called on Governor Chukwuma Soludo to postpone the town’s traditional ruler election to Easter or December 2026, instead of tomorrow, Monday, 12th January, 2026, as fixed by the government through the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Town Union Affairs.
Speaking during a press briefing at the Ndiowu Town Hall, the immediate past President General of the town, Engineer Chike Emenike, who appreciated Governor Soludo for his earlier intervention in the town during the President General election, explained that shifting the Igwe election to Easter or December would enable both residents at home and those in the diaspora to participate, noting that many who returned for the festive season have gone back, and holding the election tomorrow would disenfranchise a large number of the community members.
Engineer Emenike, speaking on behalf of the people, faulted the directive by the State Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Town Union Affairs, Mr Tony-Collins Nwabunwanne, that the community’s constitution will not be used in the Igwe election, argueing that only a court has the power to issue an injunction stopping the use of a community's constitution, and stressed that the state government’s role should be to supervise the election and ensure that it is conducted in line with the town’s constitution, to ensure peaceful coexistence during and after the election.
Contributing, the community Woman Leader, Mrs Ifeyinwa Nwafor; the Youth Leader, Mr Onyeka Okeke; and a representative of chairmen of the nine villages that make up Ndiowu Community, Mazi Obiorah Okoli, attributed the crisis surrounding the Igwe election to the activities of people who do not mean well for the town, saying that their various groups are opposed to the proposed Monday election, warning that it could lead to chaos in the community.
They also condemned the alleged disqualification of women from participating in the election and the proposed use of the secret ballot system instead of the Option A4 method, which they said is provided for in the town’s constitution and has been in used over the years.
