Tension Brews in Enugu Community Over Disputed Igweship Amid Allegations of Imposition
A communal crisis is threatening to erupt in Isiagu Akpawfu autonomous community, located in Nkanu East Local Government Area of Enugu State, following alleged attempts by certain individuals to install a traditional ruler without conducting a formal election, in violation of the community’s customs and constitution.
Investigations reveal that the tussle for the Igweship stool is currently the subject of a legal dispute pending before the Court of Appeal. However, despite the unresolved legal process, a Certificate of Return has reportedly been issued to one Prince Tony Ike Okoye, sparking widespread discontent among the community’s residents.
Addressing the press over the weekend, one of the Igweship contenders, Chief James Ede Ogbu, decried what he described as a calculated attempt to disenfranchise him based on false claims about his origin.
“I was disqualified on the grounds that I am not a native of the autonomous community. That allegation is laughable. I am from Obodo Onovo Nwowo, and that is a matter of public record—it is gazetted,” Ogbu said.
“Their claim that my family is not part of the community is a deliberate omission and a conspiracy to prevent me from contesting.”
Ogbu emphasized that the process of selecting a traditional ruler in Isiagu Akpawfu is clearly defined in the community’s constitution and must be determined through an electoral process—not by imposition. He insisted that no election was conducted to validate the emergence of Prince Okoye as Igwe.
According to him, three candidates had been screened and cleared by the community’s electoral committee. However, the process was halted when Okoye allegedly secured a court injunction that effectively suspended the election. In response, Ogbu promptly appealed the ruling, aiming to correct what he described as a “false narrative” regarding his nativity and eligibility.
What has particularly fueled unrest, Ogbu said, was the subsequent move by the Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy Matters and Rural Development, Hon. Okey Ogbodo, who officially recognised Prince Okoye as the traditional ruler of Isiagu Akpawfu on April 26, 2025, despite the unresolved court case and absence of an election.
“I am deeply disappointed. While this matter is still before the court, someone who was never elected is being imposed on us. I am calling on Governor Peter Mbah to intervene. This is injustice. I feel cheated, sidelined, and oppressed,” Ogbu lamented.
Backing Ogbu’s claims, Ede Stephen, Assistant Secretary of the town union of Isiagu Akpawfu, publicly refuted allegations that Ogbu is not a true son of the community. He described the accusation as false and politically motivated.
“The claim that Chief Ogbu is not from Isiagu Akpawfu is a lie. We know him, and we stand with him. Conscience is an open wound that only the truth can heal,” Stephen said.
“We do not want anyone imposed on us. We have not elected any Igwe. All we ask is that the due process be followed so that our traditional ruler is selected through a credible and transparent election.”
Both men appealed to the Enugu State Government to refrain from recognising any individual as Igwe until the community’s constitutionally mandated selection process has been followed and the pending legal case is resolved.
As tensions continue to mount, residents warn that failure to address the situation through fair and lawful means could trigger serious unrest in the community.