Leaders of Ihuezeofia Village in Enuogu Autonomous Community, Nkerefi, Nkanu East Local Government Area of Enugu State, have accused the State Commissioner for Chieftaincy and Rural Development, Dr. Charles O.C. Egungbe, of alleged abuse of office and bias in the handling of a leadership dispute within the community.
In a press statement signed by community leaders, the villagers alleged that they had been consistently marginalised by influential individuals in Enuogu Community whom they claimed were using their connections with the Enugu State Government to frustrate their interests.
According to the statement, the group met with the commissioner in March 2026 to express concerns over what they described as a plot by the former President-General of the community and some influential persons to prevent the conduct of an election for the office of President-General.
They claimed that during the meeting, the commissioner informed them that Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah had directed that no election should be held in the community until further notice following petitions submitted by some community stakeholders.
The villagers further alleged that rather than facilitating reconciliation between the parties, the commissioner constituted a caretaker committee and appointed as chairman one of the candidates who had contested for the office of President-General, instead of selecting what they described as a neutral individual.
They argued that the decision undermined fairness and transparency, alleging that certain influential persons were determined to prevent Ihuezeofia Village from producing the next President-General of Enuogu Autonomous Community.
According to the statement, Enuogu Autonomous Community comprises six gazetted villages and one newly created village, with every gazetted village except Ihuezeofia having previously produced a President-General.
The community leaders also alleged that Enuogu Autonomous Community had operated under three different constitutions over the past 20 years. They claimed that when concerns were raised over the existence of multiple constitutions, the traditional ruler and some community members allegedly secured a court order affirming one version of the constitution without involving village leaders and other stakeholders.
The group called on human rights organisations, relevant authorities, and well-meaning Nigerians to intervene, insisting that justice, fairness, and due process should prevail in resolving the leadership crisis.
The statement was jointly signed by the Chairman of Ihuezeofia Village, Comrade Edeson John Chukwudi; Secretary-General, Hon. Prof. Kenneth Ogbodo; Elder Augustine Orji; Elder Elijah Chukwu; and Dr. Boniface Ogbu.
