The Anambra State Government has declared that the Oba community in Idemili Local Government Area does not currently have a traditional ruler, following reports of an alleged election to replace the late Igwe Peter Ezenwa, who passed away in 2018.
Addressing a press conference on Monday, TonyCollins Nwabunwanne, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, stated that the state government was not aware of any election conducted in the community.
Nwabunwanne explained that there is a subsisting court order prohibiting the conduct of an election for a traditional ruler in Oba. He emphasized that the purported election, which was conducted in violation of the court order, was neither supervised nor recognized by the government.
“As of today, there is no traditional ruler or Igwebuike Cabinet in Oba Community. There is a court order which barred the conduct of a traditional ruler election before us, and until that order is dispensed with, there can be no election,” the commissioner said.
The commissioner warned that any individual claiming to be the traditional ruler of Oba would face legal consequences.
“The Anambra government is hereby issuing a bench warrant on anybody parading himself as the traditional ruler of Oba Community. Such a person should be arrested by the security agencies,” he declared.
Nwabunwanne reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to upholding peace, security, and social order in Oba and urged residents to respect the rule of law.
