The leadership crisis rocking the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Chapter of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide may be nearing an end, following the decision of the organisation’s Global Executive Council (GEC) to conduct a fresh election for the chapter.
The election has been scheduled for October 24, 2026, as part of efforts to resolve years of factionalisation and restore unity among members of the Igbo socio-cultural organisation in Abuja.
The decision was reached during a stakeholders’ meeting involving representatives of the national secretariat in Enugu and members of the FCT Chapter in Abuja on September 6.
The national delegation, led by the Deputy President General, Prince Okey Nwadinobi, conveyed the goodwill of President General, Senator Azuta Mbata, and called on the various factions to embrace reconciliation and place the interests of Ndigbo above personal differences.
A major outcome of the meeting was the constitution of an independent Electoral Committee to oversee the fresh election.
The committee, chaired by Chief Ejiofor Onyia, has Ambassador Eddy Onuoha as Deputy Chairman and H.E. Emeka Sibeudu as Secretary. Other members include Nwadinobi, Dr Ezechi Chukwu, Chief Charles Nkata and Barrister Chizoba Iheka.
The six recognised groups within the FCT Chapter are also expected to nominate representatives to the committee, a move aimed at ensuring broad participation and confidence in the electoral process.
The committee is expected to release the election guidelines within two weeks and conduct what the national leadership described as a credible, transparent, inclusive and peaceful election.
As part of efforts to prevent further disputes, representatives of the six groups signed a Memorandum of Understanding committing themselves to respect the agreed peace pact, electoral process and resolutions reached at the meeting.
Speaking on behalf of the Electoral Committee, Ambassador Onuoha assured stakeholders that the committee would discharge its responsibilities with impartiality and diligence.
The intervention by the national leadership is expected to provide a fresh pathway for the emergence of a unified leadership and bring an end to the prolonged disputes within the FCT Chapter.
