The crisis engulfing the selection of a new traditional ruler in Izzo Autonomous Community, Ishielu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, deepened at the weekend as community leaders accused two top government officials of bribery, manipulation, and subverting due process.
At the centre of the controversy are the Principal Secretary to the Ebonyi State Governor, Chief Mathias Adum, and the Executive Chairman of Ishielu LGA, Mrs. Peace Ifeoma Agwu, who were alleged to have collected over ₦100 million from one of the contestants, Mr. Monday Ogbule, to disqualify the community’s consensus candidate.
The allegations were made during a tense briefing with journalists shortly after Adum announced the disqualification of the community-approved candidate, Mr. Sunday Orugbala Eche, at the venue scheduled for the Ezeship election.
The Town Union President of Izzo Autonomous Community, Comrade Ikechukwu Ojeogu, condemned the development, insisting that qualified candidates must be allowed to contest and that community members including “every mature man and woman”reserve the right to freely select their traditional ruler.
He described the actions of the government officials as a betrayal of the community’s trust.
A prominent stakeholder, Comrade Nworie Emeka, Secretary-General of Umuigboke Kindred, alleged that Adum had repeatedly received large sums from the community during previous attempts to hold the election.
“For the three consecutive times the election was scheduled, the community through the executive released ₦20 million each time to the committee led by Adum,” he claimed, adding that the people were later shocked to discover alleged secret financial dealings involving a contestant.
Another contestant, Onyema Enwuru, said he was blindsided by the sudden changes.
“Today was meant for the election. I completed all required forms, but suddenly I was informed that Chief Adum had ‘performed everything’—meaning decisions had already been made without due process,” he said.
The community stakeholder, Nwankwo Ogbonna commended Governor Francis Nwifuru for his developmental track record but expressed disappointment that his aides were allegedly undermining his commitment to democratic selection of traditional rulers.
“We know Ezeship is for elders and custodians of our traditions, not for the highest bidder. Adum and Agwu connived and received bribes to sell our traditional stool. They disqualified credible candidates just like what happened in Ezeagu. We are begging Governor Nwifuru to intervene because we do not need a political traditional ruler,” he said.
Former town union president and community leader, Chief James Enwuru, described the day’s events as disappointing and destabilizing.
“We expected a peaceful election among the three credible candidates including Onyema Francis Enwuru, Orugbala Sunday Echeh, and Monday Joseph Ogbule.
“Instead, the government delegation led by Chief Adum disenfranchised women and credible candidates,” he said.
He questioned the suitability of the alleged favoured contestant, Monday Ogbule, noting: “He is young, recently returned from South Africa, unfamiliar with our land boundaries, and has made no meaningful contributions to peace or development in Izzo.”
Enwuru urged Governor Nwifuru to intervene, expressing concern that the community feels neglected despite earlier appeals since January.
Attempts to reach the accused officials yielded little response as Ishielu LGA Chairman, Mrs. Ifeoma Agwu, told reporters she was in a meeting, but
Chief Mathias Adum did not answer calls or respond to text messages as of the time of filing this report.
Meanwhile, the Izzo community people especially their stakeholders have insisted on the Ebonyi State government to urgently intervene to restore peace and ensure a transparent, credible selection process for its traditional leadership.