A community leader in Ekwenu autonomous community, Obolo-Affor in Udenu Local Government Area of Enugu state, Chief Emma Ugwu, has warned of a looming crisis in the area over alleged plan to issue a certificate of return to one of the contenders for Igweship stool despite a court order against such action.

Ugwu said if Governor Peter Mbah does not call the Enugu State Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Chieftaincy Affairs to order, the officials would plunge the community into avoidable chaos.

The community, who is an Igweship nominee and Plaintiff in suit no: OB/40/2024, raised the alarm in a statement he made available to journalists.

He accused the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Chieftaincy Affairs of planning “to commit another contempt of the court, obstruct justice and throw the Enugu community into mayhem over a contentious chieftaincy stool.”

He said it came to the notice of the people of alleged plan by one Chinwe Eze of the same community, in conjunction with the Commissioner for Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Chieftaincy Matters, Deacon Okey Ogbodo and the Chairman of Udenu Local Govt Area, Mr. Aka Eze Aka, to ignore a subsisting court order “and issue him (Chinwe Eze) a certificate of recognition as the Igwe (traditional ruler) of the said community”.

He claimed that some traditional rulers had also been drafted to back the alleged illegality.

He further alleged that this would be the third time the respondents would be flouting the court order.

He said apart from purporting that Chinwe was elected, the local government chairman also announced that he was presenting Chinwe Eze as Igwe-elect to the people, adding that “all these were against the subsisting court order”.

Ugwu said the same people were planning to deceive the state government into presenting a certificate of recognition to Chinwe Eze as Igwe of the community, “just to drag the governor into this contemptuous illegality”.

“We want to caution political appointees not to abuse their office by engaging in lawlessness.

“We insist that a matter that is subjudice with a valid court order should be respected.

“Deacon Okey Ogbodo should know that his duty is to uphold the law and order. The office he is occupying is not his personal estate.

“Chinwe Eze is contesting the Igweship stool of the autonomous community but the court has issued a restraining order barring any action regarding the stool pending the determination of the substantive suit.

“Chinwe Eze had earlier filed a motion to set aside the restraining order, but the court threw away the motion.

“Again the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Chieftaincy Affairs had also filed a motion to set aside the order but the court rejected the motion.

“Chinwe Eze filed another motion asking the court to stay the order, again the court refused.

“Chinwe Eze further filed an appeal at the Appeal Court over the refusal of the High Court to vacate the order. The Appeal is still pending at the moment.

“The subsisting order of the High Court is that anything pertaining to Igweship stool of Ekwenu Autonomous Community should be put on hold pending the determination of the substantive suit.

“But instead of allowing the court process to run its natural course, Chinwe Eze is resorting to self-help,” he further alleged.

The community leader appealed to Governor Mbah to intervene on the matter.

“The State Governor should please take note of this ugly development and attempt to compromise the rule of law, which has the potential of throwing the community into chaos and violence.

“The governor should intervene through the Attorney General to nip this potential time-bomb in the bud and call the Commissioner for Chieftaincy Affairs to order.

“The Commissioner, Okey Ogbodo, should not be allowed to compromise the due process of the law and in the process disrupt the peace and orderliness in any section of the state.

“Enugu as a leading state in the South East should not be subjected to this kind of lawlessness and abuse of office,” he appealed.

Both the commissioner and the Udenu local government chairman are yet to respond to the claims as of the time of filing this report.

The Edo State chapter of the Social Democratic Party, has suspended four of its executive members for alleged misconduct.

The suspension of the executive members was made known to newsmen on Sunday in Benin City, at a press conference.

The State chairman of the party, Elder Felix Obayagbon, read the press statement which was also signed by state secretary, Mr Hyacinth Esangbedo and state working party members

Obayagbon said the disciplinary action was taken against the erring members after the State Working Committee meeting in Benin City.

Ekwutosblog eports that the suspended executive members were accused of illegally suspending the duly recognized State Chairman and State Secretary, among others.

Obayagbon also listed the offences of the embattled executive members to include; convening unauthorized meetings in defiance of established party protocols, making disparaging and inflammatory remarks against the party and its leadership.

“Other infractions include an alleged attempt to relocate the State Secretariat without approval, which undermined the party’s operational structure,

“The alleged forging official of party letterhead and the signatures of the State Chairman and Secretary to mislead the public and falsely legitimize their unlawful actions.

“Alleged use of the State Chairman’s name and forged documents to issue a condolence message without his knowledge or consent”, he alleged.

He said the suspension of the erring members was with immediate effect.

He gave the names of the suspended executive members as the party members Chief Tony Alile, Organizing Secretary, Mr. Chris Ojiekere, publicity secretary, Mr. Benjamin Omonzokpia, Youth Leader and Mrs. Yami Jatto, Woman Leader.

The state SDP chairman opined that the suspension of the officials was in line with the relevant sections of the party’s constitution.

According to him, “the Edo State Working Committee of the Social Democratic Party, SDP, has taken decisive disciplinary action against four members whose actions constitute gross violations of Article 19, Sections 19.1, 19.2, and 19.3 of the Party’s Constitution.

“Their conduct has been deemed detrimental to the unity, integrity, and orderly functioning of the party. The suspension of the party’s officials takes immediate effect.

“Alleged travelling to Abuja with two subordinates without obtaining the necessary approval from the State Chairman”, he alleged

Obayagbon stated that particularly disturbing was that Chief Tony Alile and Mr Chris Ojiekere, who joined the party in April 2025, allegedly embraced a path of insubordination, forgery and anti-party activities.

He alleged that the actions of the duo were geared towards tarnishing the image of the party and attempting to undermine its constitutionally established leadership.

He further alleged that the suspended officials were acting in open connivance with a group of well-known transactional politicians, opportunists who notoriously resurface during every election cycle to negotiate self-serving deals and “cash out” at the expense of the party’s integrity and mission.

“This alliance has been rekindled ahead of the upcoming bye-election scheduled for August 2025, with the sole aim of hijacking the party structure for selfish political gain.

“Such actions represent egregious violations of the SDP Constitution and are entirely incompatible with the party’s foundational principles.

“The SDP, Edo State Chapter, remains unwavering in its commitment to internal democracy, discipline and unity. The party will not tolerate actions that jeopardize its integrity, legality or collective vision”, he added.

Ekwutosblog gathered that some members of the party had purportedly illegally suspended the party chairman, Elder Felix Obayagbon, and the secretary, Mr Hycenth Esangbedo.

The chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Ebonyi State, Stanley Okoro-Emegha, has said the party remains unshaken by any emerging political coalition ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Speaking to journalists in Abakaliki, Okoro-Emegha stated that APC is not intimidated by the alliance of opposition parties, attributing the party’s rising dominance to the performance and popularity of Governor Francis Nwifuru.

“We are not afraid of any coalition of political parties in Ebonyi. Our people don’t vote for parties; they vote for individuals. Governor Nwifuru has done well enough to earn a second term based on his achievements,” he stated.

He revealed that the party is set to welcome another member of the House of Representatives into its ranks, following the recent defection of Joseph Nwobashi, who represents Ezza North/Ishielu Federal Constituency, from the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, to APC.

Okoro-Emegha also disclosed that talks are ongoing with federal lawmakers from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and Labour Party, LP, suggesting that further defections are imminent.

“In a few weeks, it might not even take up to two weeks, another House of Reps member will join the APC here in Ebonyi. That’s how prepared we are for 2027,” he added.

He further noted that three members of the Ebonyi State House of Assembly, originally elected on the platforms of APGA, LP, and PDP, have already defected to APC, consolidating the party’s strength across the state.

He affirmed that APC is fully prepared and mobilised for the next electoral cycle in Ebonyi and beyond.