The leadership crisis rocking the Anglican Diocese of Awka, Anambra State, has intensified following a protest against the appointment of Rt. Rev. Samuel Ezeofor as Supervising Bishop of the diocese.
A group of protesters gathered outside St. Faith’s Anglican Cathedral, Awka, on Wednesday, October 21, reportedly opposing the appointment of Ezeofor, who was assigned to oversee the diocese by the Primate of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, Most Rev. Henry Ndukuba.
The development comes amid an ongoing dispute over the leadership of the diocese following Ndukuba’s directive that Archbishop Alexander Ibezim proceed on six months’ compulsory leave pending investigations into allegations concerning his administration.
Following the directive, the Primate appointed Ezeofor, the Bishop of Aguata Diocese, to supervise the affairs of the Awka Diocese.
However, the Awka Diocesan Board rejected the directive, insisting that Ibezim remains the recognised bishop of the diocese.
The disagreement has deepened divisions within the church, with Wednesday’s protest coinciding with a scheduled meeting between Ezeofor, members of the clergy and their wives at the cathedral.
Security operatives were reportedly deployed to the area to maintain order amid the tension surrounding the appointment.
The crisis has also spilled into the legal arena, with the Diocesan Chancellor, B.E.I. Nwofor, SAN, reportedly demanding ₦5 billion in damages over his removal from office.
Meanwhile, the police have maintained that their presence in the area is solely to preserve peace and maintain law and order, stressing that their deployment is not intended to support either faction in the dispute.
The leadership disagreement has continued to generate tension within the Awka Diocese as efforts to resolve the dispute face resistance from opposing sides.
Further developments are expected as the church leadership and other stakeholders navigate the administrative and legal issues surrounding the crisis.
