In a dramatic twist, both Senator John Azuta Mbata and Dim Uche Nnam Okwukwu are laying claim to the position of President General of the Igbo apex socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo.
Reports had earlier indicated that Okwukwu, a prominent lawyer and activist, was elected as the new President General of the organization during a convention in Port Harcourt on Friday.
However, in a shocking turn of events, Senator Mbata emerged with his own election, held separately in Enugu.
Prominent figures at the Enugu election included Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State, Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State, Dr. Alex Otti of Abia State, among other notable Igbo sons and daughters.
According to the returning officer at the event, Senator Mbata was returned unopposed by the General Assembly.
Senator Mbata, in his acceptance speech, expressed gratitude to the delegates and vowed to prioritize the release of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), alongside advocating for the restructuring of Nigeria and other pressing Igbo issues.
However, speaking on Arise Television on Friday evening, Okwukwu denied any knowledge of the election in Enugu and insisted that his election, which took place in Port Harcourt, was legitimate.
He reaffirmed his position as the rightful President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo and emphasized that he was elected unopposed by the General Assembly during the Port Harcourt convention.
