A High Court in Enugu State has granted a temporary injunction preventing the apex Igbo socio-political organisation Ohanaeze Ndigbo from considering the candidacy of former Inspector General of Police, Mike Okiro, for the position of President-General in the upcoming election on January 10.
This decision came after Chimenu Amadi filed a motion on behalf of himself and the Indigenous Igbos of Rivers State, requesting the court to stop Okiro from seeking the presidency of Ohanaeze Ndigbo based on his Imo State heritage and the stipulation that only indigenes of Rivers State can aspire for this role.
The court issued a temporary injunction against Okiro due to ineligibility related to his state of origin pending the hearing and resolution of the motion for an interlocutory injunction.
Furthermore, the court allowed the Nze Ozichukwu-Chukwu committee to proceed with organising the election for the president-general of the prominent Igbo socio-cultural group, scheduled for January 10, 2025, while also prohibiting certain leaders of the organisation from interfering with or disrupting the electoral process.
According to a motion filed by Aloy Ejimakor against specific leaders of Ohanaeze Ndigbo—Chidi Ibe, Okechukwu Isiguzoro, and Richard Ozubu—who are referred to as the 5th to 7th respondents, there is a deliberate attempt to create discord, unrest, and lawlessness by individuals forming an unauthorised parallel-group, which would breach the organization’s constitution by making the election for the president-general an open and unregulated affair.
In addition, Article 11 concerning the election process for the president-general specifies that it should rotate among the Igbo states and the Igbo-speaking communities of Delta and Rivers states.
Nonetheless, the court established a temporary injunction to maintain the current state of affairs until the motion for an interlocutory injunction is heard.
On January 10, Ohanaeze Ndigbo is set to choose its next president-general following the demise of its former leader, Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, in July 2024.
