By Ebuka Onyekwelu, Ph.D
The Senior Special Assistant to the Government of Anambra State has dismissed claims that the Igweship election in Nsugbe was conducted in violation of a certain court order. Although the new Igwe of Nsugbe, His Royal Highness Nzekwesiri Nweke, Esq, has already been issued with his certificate as the recognized traditional ruler of Nsugbe and inducted into the Anambra State Council of Traditional Rulers, it was still considered necessary to put the records straight.
Reacting to the claim that a court order had stopped the conduct of the Igweship election, the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the Governor of Anambra State on Legal Matters, Nnaemeka Ugha, Esq, said that the claim was wrong. “That claim is incorrect and not supported by the express terms of the Court’s order,” Ugha said. To begin, the SSA on Legal Matters pointed out that the Government of Anambra State was not a party to the court case and was subsequently “not restrained by the order of the Court.” To buttress, he further argued that the Attorney General of Anambra State, Tobechukwu Nweke, SAN, “has no role in the conduct of election/selection or recognition of traditional ruler.” However, he pointed out that such statutory responsibility relating to chieftaincy affairs rests with the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Vincent Ezeaka, Esq. Therefore, considering that there is “no order against the State to restrain any statutory functions, the Government acted within its lawful powers and did not violate any order of Court,” he said.
Explaining further, Mr. Ugha noted that the court order to stop the election originally slated for August 8, 2026 was obeyed. He also observed that the initial prayer to abolish the delegate system and allow every adult member of the Ivite village to vote in the Igweship contest was upheld by the Caretaker Committee, which was set up to avert imminent breakdown of order. The election was thereafter fixed for August 30th, 2026, which is “a fresh process,” having complied with the court order that stopped the initial election slated for August 8.
Mr. Ugha therefore urged that people disregard the claims that the Government of Anambra State had disobeyed a valid court order, affirming the Government’s commitment to the rule of law.
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