Ohanaeze: Faction Drags Obiozor To Court

The leadership crisis that engulfed Ohanaeze Ndigbo seems to have deepeened after the Chidi Ibeh-led faction approached the court to stop George Obiozor from parading himself as the President-General of the the apex Igbo socio-cultural organization.

Obiozor emerged the President-General of the socio-cultural group in an election held at the Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri, Imo State last Sunday but a parallel poll was held a day earlier which produced Ibeh as a factional leader of Ohanaeze Ndigbo.

The Ibeh faction thus filed a suit with No FCT/HC/BIU/M/14/21 against Obiozor and the incorporated trustees of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, seeking an order restraining Obiozor and his privies or any other parading himself as the President-General of the group pending the determination of the substantive suit.

ALSO READ: IPOB Rejects Obiozor’s Choice As President Of Ohanaeze Ndigbo

Similarly, in an originating summons, Ibeh-led faction is also asking for the interpretations of article 10,11,14 and 21 of constitution of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, brought pursuant to order 2 Rules 1, 3 and 4 of the federal high court of the federal capital territory (Civil Procedure) Rules 2018 and section 6(6B) of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The matter comes up on Thursday, 21st January, 2021.

Meanwhile, former Governor of Imo State Dr. Ikedi Ohakim said Ohanaeze Ndigbo is not factionalised, insisting the parallel election held was just a charade.

Ohakim who warned Ibeh and his group to desist from causing confusion in the South-East, described their action as contempt of court.

He said: “The so-called parallel election is laughable but I can assure you there was no election anywhere. Let them show us the video and photographs. In any case, a committal process has commenced. There was a court injunction restraining anybody from doing anything outside the electoral committee constituted by the Imeobi, led by the immediate past President-General, Nnia Nwodo, and headed by Egariwey. All those who announced a parallel executive will eventually have themselves to blame.

“They should tell us where and where their candidate or candidates visited to canvass for support? Who and who did their candidates consult? Did they consult me for example? You may say I am sounding immodest but I do not need to emphasise the fact that no serious contender for the position of President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo can afford not to consult me, Ikedi Ohakim, when it is zoned to Imo.

“I am not saying that I am the person that will give him the thing. What I mean is that you can’t be serious if you think that my opinion on who emerges does not matter. Let them tell us who else they consulted. Did they complete the relevant forms? Who did they submit the forms to? And to which bank account did they pay the stipulated fees into?

“You don’t win a contest by sitting at home and pay some miscreants to be abusing your opponents on social media. It is like the advertising metaphor when you are winking at a lady in the night thinking that she knows what you are doing. Of course, Ndigbo do not take the recalcitrant Enugu group and their sponsors seriously even though they still have to face criminal charges in court.”