By Ovat Abeng
Members of Ikenga Umueri Unity Forum (IUUF), Umueri community in Anambra East Local Government Area of Anambra State, has called on governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo to urgently intervene in the ongoing leadership crisis rocking the town over who become the next President General of Umueri General Assembly (UGA).
The group accused the Executive Chairman of Anambra East Local Government Area, Hon. Ifeanyi Chinweze, the President General, Umueri General Assembly, Chief Johny Metchie, and Chief Eugene Aghaebe of being behind the leadership tussle in the community.
They lamented that the tussle is threatening the peace and unity of the town.
The called was contained in a statement signed and issued to Journalists in Awka on Friday by High Chief Dan Ekwevi (Leader), Dr. Chinedu Ekweonu (Secretary) and Chief Obi Monulu (Moderator) respectively.
READ ALSO: Defection: Declare Abaribe seat vacant, APGA tells Senate
The statement read in part; We, the members of Ikenga Umueri Unity Forum (IUUF), heartily felicitate with you, the Executive Governor of Anambra State, Prof Chukwuma Charles Soludo on your swearing in for second term in office.
“We also thank you for appointing one of our brothers Dr. Egbune Okechi as the Deputy Chief of Staff. It is only the Almighty God that will reward you enough for the magnitude of love you have been showing the people of Umueri and the unprecedented development that we are witnessing under your stewardship in Anambra.
“As the umbrella body of elites of Ikenga Umueri (One of the four quarters that made up the Umueri Community), we humbly call your attention to the peace threatening actions of Hon. Ifeanyi Chinweze (Executive Chairman of Anambra East Local Government Area), President General, Umueri General Assembly (Chief Johny Metchie), and Chief Eugene Aghaebe (Electoral Committee Chairman).
“Umueri is made up of 4 administrative Quarters, namely; Ezi, Ikenga, Ivite and Otuocha. Hence, our elective positions are divided amongst these 4 quarters.
“Positions given to these quarters are usually thrown open for all the residents of these quarters to contest, and occupy if voted in.
“A typical example is the present representatives of the Otuocha quarter in the outgoing U.G.A. government. They are originally from Ivite quarter,but were allowed to represent Otuocha Quarter because they reside there.This approach has been the tradition in Otuocha for many years, and we have been living peacefully like that.
“No one from other quarters has ever protested or petitioned anywhere against this practice before now,till it is the turn of Ikenga Umueri to produce the PG in the forthcoming election.
The crux of the matter is that, the tenure of the present Umueri General Assembly leadership will end on the 18th of April 2026.
“In compliance with the Umueri constitution on the change of leadership, the President General, Chief Johny Metchie inaugurated an electoral committee headed by Chief Eugene Aghaebe in January 2026.
“Without delay, Chief Aghaebe and his team rolled out their Time table for the election with the 21st of March as the election Day.
These processes were religiously followed till the 17th of March(3 days to the election) when our PG through a letter addressed to the Electoral Committee postponed the election for 3 months, beyond the tenure of his office (Copy of the letter marked Annexure A).
That disruptive Postponement of election ignited wide condemnation from most stakeholders in Umueri, including Ikenga Quarter because it is our turn to produce the next President General. We communicated the President General via a letter dated 15th of March 2026(Copy marked Annexure B) condemning the abrupt disruption of the election. Till today,he has not responded to our letter.
“Within this period of suspense, Hon. Ifeanyi Chinweze (Mayor Anambra East Council Area as an interested party in the election was busy holding clandestine meetings with some impostors in his office with the intention of altering the existing zoning formular against Ikenga Quarter who are the bonafide owners of Otuocha Umueri.
“Finally, on the 28th day of March 2026, a letter emanated from the office of the Mayor Anambra East (Copy marked Annexure C), altering the entire sharing formular and introducing a toxic clause capable of creating disharmony and discord in Umueri.
Sequel to the Mayor’s letter, the Electoral Committee chairman, Chief Eugene Aghaebe issued his own election notice on the 29th day of March 2026(Copy marked Annexure D) without including Ikenga and Otuocha Quarters in his publication. As it stands now, Leaders and Contestants from Ikenga and Otuocha Quarters have no idea of what is left for them to contest or even the fate of their brothers who bought forms and passed through the rigorous screening process.
“As peace loving citizens of Umueri that have staked so much for the unity and progress of the town, we therefore plead with you, Mr Governor sir, to use your good offices to call these trio to order,as their actions are capable of breaching the peace that the people of Umueri are enjoying today.
“Our Prayers is that, The President General should rescind his communication that reallocated positions shared amongst the 4 Quarters to its original owners as it was in the beginning of the exercise.
“That the imposition letter from the Mayor’s office be discarded and ignored because it was written without consulting the appropriate leaders and in bad fate.
“That the micro zoning of offices in Otuocha Quarter should be stopped forthwith,as it is unconstitutional and insults the sensibilities of Ikenga Umueri people, the exclusive owners of Otuocha.
“That the Electoral Committee should be instructed to continue with the election as earlier planned before the disruptive letter from the PG, Chief Johny Metchie.
The people of Ikenga Umueri as represented by Ikenga Umueri Unity Forum (IUUF) stands for the prevalence of justice, equity and fairness in the affairs of Umueri.
“As an impartial father that you have proved to be,let the excesses of these respected sons of Umueri be checked to avoid plunging the community into an unwarranted crisis,” the statement concluded.
