Leadership Crisis Rocks Ohanaeze Ndigbo: Two Leaders Claim Acting President General Position

Crisis has erupted within Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the premier socio-cultural organization for the Igbo people, following the death of its President-General, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu. The succession struggle has intensified, with two key figures staking claims to the acting President-General role.

Ambassador Okey Emuchay, the group’s Secretary-General from Abia State, and Chief Jackson Omenazu, Chairman of the Elders’ Council in Rivers State, are at the center of the dispute. Emuchay has been acting as the de facto leader for the past two weeks, even convening a National Executive Council (NEC) meeting. However, Omenazu has also declared himself the “Acting President-General,” asserting his right to lead the organization until a new president is elected in January 2025.

The contention arises from Ohanaeze Ndigbo’s established succession rules, which specify that Iwuanyanwu’s successor, who will hold the position until the January election, should come from Imo State, as both Iwuanyanwu and his predecessor, Ambassador George Obiozor, were from that state. Following Imo’s tenure, the presidency is slated to rotate to Rivers State.

Omenazu’s claim to the acting presidency stems from his nomination by the Rivers State branch last year as Deputy President General, following the death of his predecessor, Joel Kroham, in 2022. While this nomination was presented to the NEC during a meeting presided over by Iwuanyanwu, it was never approved due to time constraints.

Omenazu has insisted that his succession claim is legally sound, stating, “I will take over. By the constitution of Ohanaeze and all organograms of Ohanaeze, I will take over. I am the de facto President-General and Acting President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo after the demise of Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu.”

Omenazu further criticized the organization’s delay in approving his nomination, attributing it to internal politics aimed at marginalizing Rivers State. He accused some members of the group of selfishly seeking to install leaders who lack the capacity to guide the organization effectively.

Meanwhile, Emuchay, while addressing the situation during the opening of a condolence register for the late Iwuanyanwu, remarked that “consultations are still ongoing,” indicating that the issue is far from resolved.