Imo should produce President-General for 27 days before election — Ohanaeze

The Ime-obi of Ohanaeze Ndigbo on Saturday resolved that delegates from Imo State should nominate a new President-General of the apex Igbo sociopolitical group until January 10, 2025, when its next election will be held.

Ohanaeze has been without a President-General since the death of Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu.

Iwuanyanwu passed away on July 25, 2024, at the age of 81 after a brief illness in Abuja and was buried in his hometown of Atta, Ikeduru Local Government Area, Imo State, in November.

However, Ohanaeze’s Ime-obi accepted Iwuanyanwu’s replacement from Imo State during its meeting in Enugu State.

A communiqué issued after the meeting by Ohanaeze’s Secretary-General, Okey Emuchay, and National Publicity Secretary, Alex Ogbonnia, reads in part: “The Ime-obi extensively reviewed the situation and took note that the tenure of Imo State in the presidency of Ohanaeze will expire on January 10, 2025, and that there is a need to allow Imo State to complete its remaining 27 days in office. The Ime-obi therefore resolved as follows:

“That it accepts the request by Imo delegates to nominate a capable individual to oversee the leadership of Ohanaeze until January 10, 2025, when a new President-General will be elected, in accordance with the constitutional provisions of Ohanaeze Ndigbo.

“That the constitution of Ohanaeze Ndigbo shall be strictly followed in the election of the next President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide.

“That the next President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide shall come from Rivers State, as provided in the constitution.

“The Ime-obi also resolved that the composition of both the Election and Screening committees for the forthcoming Ohanaeze election is the responsibility of the NEC.”