The immediate past President-General of Amankanu Ohofia Oduma Town Union in Aninri Local Government Area of Enugu State, Rev. Dr. David E. C. Okoro, has called on the state government to intervene in the ongoing leadership crisis in the community, insisting that the tenure of the town union’s caretaker committee has legally expired.
Okoro made the appeal in a message addressed to the Enugu State Commissioner for Local Government and Rural Development, C. O. C. Egumgbe, urging the ministry to ensure that justice prevails in the leadership process in Amankanu.
In the message, the former President-General appealed to the commissioner not to view repeated communications from community members as harassment, describing them instead as legitimate calls for justice.
“Please do not take it hard on us if we bug you with write-ups, voice notes or calls on the subject matter in Amankanu Ohofia Oduma. Those means of communication are calls for justice. We are not volatile,” he said.
Okoro maintained that the tenure of the Amankanu Town Union Caretaker Committee officially ended at 11:59 p.m. on March 9, 2026, stressing that the 2025 Amended Laws for Town Unions in Enugu State do not allow tenure extension.
“For the records, the tenure of the Amankanu people Town Union Caretaker Committee ended at 11:59 p.m. on March 9, 2026. The 2025 Amended Laws for Town Unions in Enugu State have no provision for tenure extension. Section 43 refers,” he stated.
According to him, the caretaker committee had earlier constituted an Electoral Committee in October 2025 to oversee the election of new town union executives. The committee was reportedly approved by the community during an emergency meeting held at Eke Ndieke.
However, Okoro alleged that the process was later disrupted.
He claimed that a community leader, Chief Dubem Ekpete, allegedly dissolved the electoral committee unilaterally and appointed his personal assistant, Akachukwu Agụ, as chairman of a new screening committee.
“Chief Dubem Ekpete single-handedly dissolved the Electoral Committee and handpicked his personal assistant and the personal driver and manager of Chief Shadrach Ekene Ekpete in Enugu, Akachukwu Agụ, as chairman of the screening committee. The outcome of such screening is obvious,” he alleged.
Okoro also recalled a similar controversy that occurred in the community in 2017 involving the installation of a traditional ruler.
He said Chief Innocent Okorie Ekpete was allegedly installed as the traditional ruler under controversial circumstances during a gathering held in December 2017, adding that the matter remains in court and is scheduled for cross-examination on March 12, 2026.
The former President-General therefore urged the state government to restore order by ratifying the earlier electoral committee set up in October and ensuring that a credible town union election is conducted.
“Ratify the Electoral Committee set up last October, make necessary replacements in collaboration with the elders, stakeholders and youths, and set aside every arrangement, including the purported Igwe election or screening chaired by Akachukwu Agụ,” he appealed.
He also called on the authorities to investigate how a document described as a “hierarchy or titular constitution” relating to the community was allegedly forwarded to the ministry for gazetting.
“Investigate the source of the document and who forwarded the hierarchy or titular constitution to the ministry for gazetting, because there must be a forwarding letter accompanying the purported constitution,” he said.
Okoro further urged the government to fix a date for fresh town union elections so the community can elect a substantive leadership.
He expressed hope that the stakeholders’ meeting scheduled for March 11, 2026 would provide an opportunity for truth and justice to prevail in the community.
The former President-General also questioned the legitimacy of claims surrounding the traditional leadership structure in Amankanu.
“How can a biological father and his son be Igwe-elects of Amankanu Ohofia at the same time?” he asked.
