Igweship election: Tension soaks Enugu community over alleged moves to jettison constitution

Tension is building up in Ozom Mgbagbu Owa Autonomous community, Ezeagu Local Government Area of Enugu State following an alleged plan to discountenance the community’s constitution in the process leading to the selection of a new traditional ruler.

The traditional stool became vacant years ago after His Royal Highness, Igwe Raymond Oguji passed on.

Indigenes of the community have been expectant as they commence the process to elect a new leader, with election already fixed for Saturday, October 10, 2026.

However, days before the exercise, there is confusion in the community over who is actually qualified to contest the election.

Trouble started after the President-General of the community, Ozo Ikechukwu Ike, posted a voice note on the community’s WhatsApp page, claiming to be communicating a directive from the State Ministry of Chieftaincy Affairs.

In the purported directive, the PG said only those from Umuagba would stand for the election.

According to him, he was acting under the instruction of the Director of Chieftaincy Affairs in the ministry, Mr Alex Ngene.

But the alleged directive has put the community on edge, with many describing it as a plot to set the area on fire.

An indigene of the area who spoke to journalists in confidence said the purported directive from the ministry was an invitation to anarchy.

He recalled that a few days earlier, members of the community were at the ministry, where they met with the Enugu State Commissioner for Chieftaincy Matters, Barr. C.C. Egumgbe.

A video he made available showed the moment the commissioner was addressing the villagers.

Commissioner Egumgbe also proclaimed during the meeting, as captured in the video, that it was the turn of Ezedume Council Ward to produce the next Igwe, being the next in line after the demise of Igwe Raymond Oguji from Umuoma/Umuowe/Umuewo, number eight in the council wards.

Ezedume, being number nine, is the next to produce the Igwe.

According to the community’s constitution, the monarch’s seat rotates from one council ward to another, and since the last Igwe was from the eighth council ward, the next Igwe will come from the ninth quarter. This was clearly affirmed by the commissioner during the meeting.

The constitution provides that:

“Succession to the stool or office of Igwe shall be rotational on the basis of seniority in respect of the 10 wards.

“The General Assembly of Ozom Mghagbu-Owa shall set up a panel of selection committee who shall screen candidates from the section whose turn it is to provide the Igwe-elect for the stool/office of Igwe.

“The panel of selection committee shall produce the Igwe-elect for installation.

“The quarter whose turn it is to provide the Igwe-elect shall provide one through an open contest conducted among themselves and provide two candidates from whom the panel of selection committee shall select one and present to the General Assembly for ratification.”

However, there is now trouble in the community following the alleged counter-directive, which the people said was alien to their constitution.

A local told the media that, “We don’t believe that the government, as represented by the commissioner, will want to set our community on fire.

“I was at the meeting where he looked at our constitution and proclaimed that, by its provisions, it was the turn of Ezedume.

“So, where is this other strange counter-directive coming from? This is an invitation to anarchy.

“We are urging the government not to allow people with ulterior motives to set our place on fire. The provisions of our constitution should be applied strictly.

“We are using this medium to ask the commissioner to disown this alleged directive in order to douse the tension brewing in our community.

“The commissioner, Chief Egumgbe should not allow village PG to use his name for selfish reasons.

“Those behind this are enemies of the government, and they should not be given the opportunity to destabilise this state,” he cautioned.

Igweship election: Tension soaks Enugu community over alleged moves to jettison constitution