Ohanaeze Ndigbo Names New President–General

Nze Fidelis Chukwu, from Imo State, has been named the new President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, News360 Nigeria reports.

His appointment was announced in a communique issued after the Imeobi and General Assembly meeting of the socio-cultural group, held on Saturday in Enugu. The communique was signed by the Secretary-General, Ambassador Okey Emuchay.

Chukwu’s tenure, however, will be brief, lasting only 27 days to complete the Imo State presidency’s slot, which is set to conclude on January 10, 2025.

His emergence follows a series of leadership challenges faced by Ohanaeze Ndigbo. The death of Prof. George Obiozor in 2022 created a vacuum that led to the swearing-in of Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu under a doctrine of necessity on April 30, 2023. Sadly, Iwuanyanwu passed away on July 25, 2024, and was laid to rest on November 1.

Emuchay said, “In line with the doctrine of necessity, the Imo Chapter of Ohanaeze, led by Mr. C. J. Ihemedu, presented Chukwu to the Imeobi Ohanaeze to exhaust the balance of the four-year tenure allotted to Imo.”

He said the motion for the adoption of Chukwu was moved by Eze Cletus Ilomuanya, Chairman of the Imo Council of Elders, and seconded by Chief Simon Okeke.

“In line with the doctrine of necessity, the Imeobi adopted the nomination of Chukwu as President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, and the motion was unanimously adopted through a voice vote by the Imeobi Ohanaeze Ndigbo.

‘The State Presidents of Ohanaeze Ndigbo of Abia, Anambra, Delta, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Rivers expressed delight over the nomination of Chukwu as the new President-General until January 10, 2025,” Emuchay added.

He further stated that Chukwu was sworn in as the president-general of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide by the national legal adviser, Mr Joseph Ojobu, and the assistant legal adviser, Dr Peter Aneke.

He said the Southeast Governors’ Forum, represented by Gov. Peter Mbah, charged the new President-General to ensure that the forthcoming Ohanaeze election should be both transparent and credible.