Tension in Enugu community over alleged illegal appointment of traditional ruler

Residents of Umuchigbo Iji Nike Autonomous Community in Enugu East Local Government Area of Enugu State have expressed growing concern over the alleged unlawful appointment of a traditional ruler for the community.

The development has sparked tension following reports that a staff of office was presented to the individual said to have been installed as the community’s monarch.

The controversy stems from claims that the appointment did not follow the process outlined in the community’s constitution.

According to the constitution, the traditional ruler is expected to emerge through a democratic election conducted by members of the community.

The alleged deviation from the established procedure has generated unease among residents, with many questioning the legitimacy of the appointment and calling for adherence to the community’s constitutional provisions.

However, reports that one Jude Agu has been named a traditional ruler without election has soaked the community with tension.

During a gathering at the community’s village square, which attracted hundreds of indigenes, they unanimously declared that they have no traditional ruler yet pending when an election is conducted.

They are urging Enugu State Governor, Barr Peter Mbah to order the State Ministry of Chieftaincy Affairs to do the proper thing in the community by conducting an election.

Agu’s reported appointment is also said to be in alleged violation of an existing court order, some persons were said to have gone ahead to allegedly name a traditional ruler for the community without any form of election.

An order of an Enugu State High court, dated 25th day of July, 2025 had granted an injunction restraining the 1st Respondent from parading or holding himself out as the Igwe or Igwe Elect of Umuchigbo Iji Nike Autonomous Community pending the hearing and determination of the Substantive Suit.

The parties in the suit included: Chief Maurice Nonyelum Ekete, as Plaintiff, while Chief Jude Agu and Hon Kenneth Mbah are the defendants.

In the ruling delivered by Justice A. A. Onovo, he ruled that “An Order of Interlocutory Injunction is hereby granted restraining the 2nd Respondent from parading or holding 1st Respondent out as the Igwe or Igwe Elect of Umuchigbo lji Nike Autonomous Community pending the hearing and determination of the Substantive Suit.

“An Order of Interlocutory Injunction is hereby granted restraining the 2nd Respondent from parading or holding 1st Respondent out as the Igwe or Igwe Elect of Umuchigbo lj Nike Autonomous Community pending the hearing and determination of the Substantive Suit.

“An Interlocutory Order of this Honourable Court directing parties to maintain Status quo pending the hearing and determination of the Substantive Suit.”

Concerned indigenes say it is an aberration and invitation to anarchy for anyone not just to ignore a valid court order but to go ahead and try imposing a monarch on them without election as done in every other community.

The development is currently building up tension in the area, with many calling on the government to allow the proper thing to be done before the situation escalates.

Several elders, youths and aspirants in the Igweship race spoke to journalists, raising concern about the avoidable tension building up in the community.

Elders in the community took turns to condemn any form of imposition, insisting that it was election or nothing.

They maintained that they don’t want a crisis in the community, stressing “what we want is election; line by line”.

Among the various speakers were Chief Okoh Gabriel, Chief Fidelis Oya, Chief Nnaji Hyacinth, Chief James Ikechukwu Anike, Chief Theodore Ogbu, Hon Martins Anike.

Chief Okoh, an elder and stakeholder in the community, who was the first to speak, accused the past town union chairman, Hon Kenneth Mbah of orchestrating the confusion in the community.

According to him, the community was ready for election but rather than allow the process to go on, the former chairman said there was no time for election, and that the government had chosen someone.

He said: “But Umuchigbo Nike are against it; all we want is election; in every other place, it is election that brings out Igwe, our own will not be different.

“We are pleading to the state government, they should come and conduct election in our community.

“The reason for our gathering is because of Igweship; we have a constitution guiding the choice of Igwe.

“They said they went to the government house, came out and said Jude Agu will be the Igwe.

“If Jude Agu wants to be Igwe of Umuchigbo, he should come to our village square and contest.”

Anike Anthony Ikechukwu, the youth leader of the community also cautioned that the community should not be dragged into avoidable crisis.

According to him, the reported presentation of staff of office to anyone without election could be likened to an act of criminality.

“It is not done; as the youths of our community, we have the right to have a say in determining who will be our Igwe.

“This matter is still in court but along the line, Mr Jude Agu and co grouped themselves and manipulated the choice of Igwe by the government.

“Days ago, they said they have collected staff of office from the government. But as it stands, we won’t allow such thing to stand in our community.

“We will do everything legally to protect our rights. The government should come to our community, line by line, we will choose our Igwe,” the youth leader stated.

Aspirants to the Igweship throne were also at the gathering, during which they urged the government to douse the tension in the area by calling for election.

They included: Chief Maurice Nonyelum Ekete, Chief Joseph Iloka and Chief Josephat Ezeoha.

Ekete, a retired Permanent Secretary and first General Assembly Secretary of the community, who spoke on behalf of the other aspirants, said the community’s constitution clearly spelt out how an Igwe should emerge.

He recalled that previous attempt to elect an Igwe was scuttled by the former chairman of the community’s town union,

“But unfortunately, in this very hall, on the election day, the then Executive Chairman of the community nullified the election, on the grounds that Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi’s tenure is elapsing. And cancelled the election.

“W”e have three candidates left after the screening exercise. But instead of election, we are hearing that somebody has been picked at the government house.

“That is against the spirit of our constitution. Umuchibo is very republican in nature. And it is a cradle of civilization.

“But Umuchigbo people are gathered here today in one voice, saying that they should be allowed to trash out their own affairs.

“Matters concerning Umuchigbo should be treated by Umuchigbo people.

“There are many chiefs all over the state. And those chiefs were not selected by the government in the government house.

“The indigents were given a chance to air their views before selecting their Igwe. All our people are saying is that their voices must be heard.

“What we have in our constitution is an election, not appointment or selection. So, if the constitution is breached, the entire process becomes a nullity.”

“Our demand is simple: the government, ministry of chieftaincy, should send representatives like it has done in other communities.

“Those contesting for Igwe will come out and people will line up behind them. Anyone that wins becomes the Igwe.

“It was done everywhere where chieftaincy matters will enter a tussle. Anything that is stalemated is always resolved by election. Transparent election.

“We are not saying that somebody cannot be Igwe. We are saying whoever wants to be Igwe should feel free to present himself to the people. Nothing else we are saying,” Chief Ekete further declared.

Chief Iloka and Chief Ezeoha re-echoed Chief Ekete’s stand, insisting that a transparent election should be used to determine the monarch.

As of the time of filing this report, efforts to obtain reaction from the Enugu State Minister of Chieftaincy Affairs have not yielded result.

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