Izunna Okafor
The leadership crisis rocking the Anglican Diocese of Awka took another turn on Wednesday as protesters gathered outside the Cathedral Church of St. Faith, Awka, amid heavy security presence during a meeting convened by the newly appointed Supervising Bishop of the Diocese, Right Reverend Samuel Ezeofor.
The protest coincided with a meeting of the clergy and their wives, which Ezeofor was presiding over at the cathedral as part of his assumption of supervisory responsibilities following the directive of the Primate of the Church of Nigeria, Most Reverend Henry Ndukuba.
The gathering was convened for Wednesday, October 21, 2026, at noon, with a notice signed by Ezeofor as Supervising Bishop of the Diocese of Awka. The notice was circulated by the Chairman of the Clergy Association of the Diocese, Venerable Dr. Geoffrey Muolokwu, and the Synod Secretary, Venerable Dr. Kingsley Chukwukanmma.
However, while the meeting was underway, a group of protesters assembled outside the cathedral gate, holding placards whose inscriptions were not clearly visible in videos circulating on social media.
Footage from the scene showed mostly middle-aged men gathering around the entrance, with some using their placards to cover their faces as they chanted songs about peace and love. One of the chants conveyed the message that peace exists where love exists.
Although the protest was said to be against the suspension of the Archbishop of the Province of the Niger and Bishop of Awka Diocese, Most Reverend Alexander Chibuzo Ibezim, and Ezeofor’s appointment to oversee the Diocese, the demonstrators’ exact demands could not be independently established from the footage available.
The protesters were heard chanting songs of peace, which simply translates that where love exists is where peace exists. The protesters were, however, allegedly prevented from entering the Cathedral premises, leaving them to only cluster outside the gate, shuffling from the gate down to Eke Awka market to intervals.
Security personnel had reportedly been deployed around the cathedral from the morning ahead of the meeting, amid heightened tension over the leadership dispute. The security presence remained noticeable as the gathering and protest took place.
Reports have it that Ezeofor’s meeting with the clergy and their wives is coming days after the Primate directed Ibezim to proceed on six months’ compulsory leave and appointed the Bishop of Aguata Diocese to supervise Awka Diocese and coordinate the Province of the Niger during the period.
The directive has been strongly opposed by the Diocesan Board of Awka Diocese, which has rejected Ezeofor’s appointment and urged church organs to remain loyal to Ibezim, insisting that he should continue in office.
The Board has also argued that court cases relating to the dispute remain pending and warned that it could withdraw from the Church of Nigeria if what it described as interference in the affairs of the Diocese continued.
Wednesday’s protest has sparked off a chain of reactions on social media, with some users questioning the demonstration and alleging that the participants were sponsored or motivated by financial inducements.
More details later…
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