…Says: Plot To Impose PG, Eze Recipe For Crisis, Calls For IMHA Intervention
Aggrieved people of Ngwoma Obube Autonomous Community,Owerri West Local Government Area, Imo State, have raised alarm over what they described as the dangerous plot of Prince Alex Mbata and his surrogates, amongst whom is the Executive Chairman of Owerri North LGA, Mr Lucky Abaraonye, to set the community on fire through the hijack of the community’s traditional leadership and imposition of his handpicked candidates as the community Eze and town union President General.
The Eze in Council raised this concern in a petition it presented to the the Speaker of the Imo State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Chike Olemgbe, at the assembly complex on Thursday, August 6, 2026, through protesting youths of the community led by Mr Emeka Nkwocha Chairman of Umuobasi Village.
According to the community leaders in their petition , the ongoing crisis surrounding the office of the president general of the community was being caused by the ruling APC’s senatorial candidate for Owerri Zone in the 2027 elections alleged desperation to impose his handpicked surrogate as president general of the community, despite the fact that the tenure of the incumbent PG Mr Ephraim Anuforo, was yet to elapse. They stressed that the attempt to force a president general down their throat was Prince Mbata’s stepping stone to achieving his major obsession of imposing a traditional ruler on the community.
The community noted that the incumbent president general’s tenure would expire by December 2027 having been elected by December 2024, pointing out that this fact completely nullifies and renders illegal ongoing attempt by Prince Mbata working hand in glove with the Executive Chairman of Owerri North Council, Hon Lucky Abaraonye to impose one Mr Power Akwazie as the new PG of Ngwoma Obube Autonomous Community.
The community leaders alleged that the desperate plot by the duo to hijjack the town union leadership structure of the community climaxed on May 15, 2026 when they sent their agents claiming to be officials of Owerri North LGA to conduct a fresh presidential general election election. The Eze in Council stressed that the community told the team which was accompanied by the then outgoing Divisional Police Officer for Agbala Police Division,and DSS Officer for Owerri North LGA, that the tenure of the incumbent PG Mr Ephraim Anuforo has not expired, and that when it expires next year that they would still re elect him for his good performance.
Sadly, they further stated in the petition, the group sent by the alleged hijackers’ went back to the council, and to their greatest shock announced that a president general election was held, and that MrPower Awazie emerged the winner.
The group not only condemned the action which they described as a deliberate misuse of public office to spread falsehood and engage in illegally, but also alleged that the fraudulent action was part of the the broader agenda of Prince Mbata to impose his alleged lackey from his Amafor Village, Mr Chinedu Ekeocha on the town as its traditional ruler, contrary to its long standing Ezeship tradition and history.
The Eze in Council made it abundantly clear that the illegalities being perpetrated in the community by the APC Senatorial Candidate, have not only become unbearable and intolerable, but more are gradually pushing the community forward the brink of serious crisis that could set it on fire.
According to them, that was why they wrote the strongly worded petition to the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Rt Hon Olemgbe, and also why youths of the community staged a peaceful protest at the premises of the assembly.
They made a passionate appeal to the Speaker and his colleagues to urgently intervene in the gradually escalating matter by calling Prince Mbata to order, while also instituting an investigation into the matter with a view to meting sanctions on him and those he’s using to try to cause social crisis and break down of law and order in the community if found guilty.
Speaking during the protest march at the assembly complex Mr Emeka Nkwocha, Chairman of Umuobasi Kindred of the community, said the incumbent PG is from the kindred, adding that it was their turn to occupy the office in line with the zoning arrangement of the community. He stated that Mr Ephraim Anuforo was their choice and not Prince Mbata’s candidate who he said was not a bonafide indigene of the kindred.
While condemning in the strongest possible terms the ongoing desperate attempt to deny his kindred its due and legitimate right through forceful imposition of a candidate whose relationship with the kindred was because of his mother being a daughter of the kindest, the village chairman urged Rt Hon Olemgbe to use his good office to ensure that justice was served them and by extension the entire Ngwoma Obube Community.
