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Imo Poll: Ignore sit-at-home order, go out and vote, Ohanaeze tells voters
The apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo has called on the electorate to ignore any call for sit-at-home and come out en-mass to cast their votes during the Imo state governorship election holding tomorrow, November 11.
The President-General of Ohanaeze, Chief Dr. Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu in a statement issued on Thursday, said obeying such order will create chaos in the state.
“On Saturday, November 11, 2023, the people of Imo State will be going to the polls to elect a Governor who will preside over the affairs of Imo State for the next 4 years. As the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, I wish to appeal to all the Imo people to turn out en-mass to cast their votes for any candidate of their choice.
“I have been told that some people have issued threats prohibiting Imo people from coming out to cast their votes. In fact, I understand that this group have issued a total sit at home order from November 9, to November 12, 2023. If Imo people should comply to this, there will be no election in Imo State and that will create chaos.
“I am therefore with every sense of responsibility and love appealing to the leader of this group to rescind his decision to order a sit at home. I have found it very necessary to sound this notice and warning because we in Igboland have had enough of bloodshed. We fought a civil war which took the lives of millions of our people and also incalculable losses in property. We do not want a situation whereby any part of Igboland will be exposed to any type of destructive violence. I had earlier made my point on this issue very clear. As a father, I prefer a peaceful resolution of all problems. I prefer a non-kinetic approach. It is my belief that all disputes are best resolved over a round table dialogue. Bloodshed and destruction of our property cannot be a solution.”
Chief Iwuanyanwu also dispelled report that Imo Governor was hindering efforts to release Nnamdi Kanu and narrated efforts being made to secure the IPOB leader.
“Furthermore, a very false news is currently being circulated in the social media alleging that President Tinubu accused the Governor of Imo State His Excellency Sen. Hope Uzodinma of persuading him not to release Mazi Nnamdi Kanu from incarceration.
”As the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, I have investigated this matter and found it to be false and malicious in its entirety. Governor Hope Uzodinma never held such meeting with President Tinubu. To the contrary I have held discussions with Governor Hope Uzodinma and the other four Governors of the South East, namely; His Excellency, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, His Excellency, Alex Oti, His Excellency, Dr. Peter Mbah and His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Francis Nwifuru and they all are firmly and irrevocably committed to the release of Nnamdi Kalu from incarceration.
“May I also mention that on Monday July 10, 2023, I held a meeting in Abuja with the Speakers of State Houses of Assembly, members of National Assembly, the State Governors and select leaders from the South East and all of them unanimously agreed that Ohanaeze should work towards the immediate release of Nnamdi Kanu. On that occasion, I was directed as the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide to secure an appointment with President Bola Amed Tinubu on this subject.
”I want to confirm that I have already written to Mr President requesting for a meeting with the leaders of the South East and I believe I will be given this opportunity soon.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, speaking for the entire Igbo, is of the opinion that our son Mazi Nnamdi Kanu should be released from incarceration, especially when a court of competent jurisdiction has already ordered for his release.
“I will once more appeal to all those concerned to consider it a patriotic duty to rescind the call for a total sit at home and also the directive for instant murder of people who violate the sit-at-home-order. The information reaching Ohaneze Ndigbo is that a directive has been issued for some homes to be destroyed. I want to believe that this is an ordinary rumour because it is not in our character.
“Finally, I want through this medium to request all our sons and daughters who are aggrieved one way or the other to sheathe their swords and accept peaceful negotiation. Experience has shown that violence cannot resolve any problem, most problems are best resolved through peaceful negotiations.
“I am therefore making a passionate appeal to all those concerned to have a ceasefire to give us opportunity to look into the matter. I regard everybody in Igboland as my child. I therefore consider it a duty to protect everybody’s interest to the best of my ability.”
A cleric, Chibuzor Gift Chinyere, has raised alarm after another child was reportedly abandoned at his residence on April 23, 2026.
According to him, the incident occurred earlier in the day when the young boy was discovered at his gate. He stated that he has immediately notified the police and is making arrangements to hand the child over to the appropriate authorities.
The cleric explained that he is unable to take in new children at the moment due to ongoing registration processes with the Ministry of Social Welfare. He stressed that accepting the child would violate existing legal requirements guiding child care and protection.
He further disclosed that his facility is already accommodating over 500 children, making it necessary to strictly adhere to regulations before admitting more.
Chinyere also expressed appreciation to the Federation of International Women Lawyers and the Ministry of Social Welfare for educating him on proper legal procedures.
He reiterated that the child would be transferred to the custody of the Ministry, emphasizing that compliance with the law remains his top priority.
Adewole Emmanuel, a 400-level medical student of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State, has died after reportedly collapsing moments before his final session examination.
Emmanuel’s death was announced on Thursday in a statement by the Ife University Medical Students Association.
The association lamented the sudden departure, describing Emmanuel as a solid pillar of his class.
The statement read in part, “Under the cover of dark clouds, we write to you with the heaviest of hearts to inform you of the passing of one of our own, an integral part of the association and a solid pillar of his class.
While describing the deceased as “a colleague, friend, roommate, and a Part 4 medical student with an undeniably bright future until the time of his passing”, the association added that “This incident is not only sad, but crucially painful as we lost a rising star and a loving member of the IFUMSA family.”
“In honoring his dearest memories, we kindly ask the general public to do without speculations and respect the privacy of the family during this vulnerable period.”
Speaking under condition of anonymity, a senior member of the association said the student died on Wednesday without an underlying ailment.
“He died yesterday. But he hadn’t been sick. He just collapsed and couldn’t be resuscitated,” the source said.
“We were about to write our final exam for the session. And during the process of waiting for the exam, he suddenly collapsed in the college and died.
“It’s just unfortunate as he didn’t have any underlying medical condition. We have contacted his family already.”
..As court srikes out charges against CEO, Energy FM Enugu, Pastor Ogbuanu, 3 others, Awards N1m cost against her
An Enugu State Magistrate Court has struck out a four-count criminal charge brought against a Lagos-based cleric and Chief Executive Officer, Energy FM Enugu, Pastor Basil Ogbuanu, and three of his workers.
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The court also awarded a N1m cost against Mrs. Patricia Nwobodo, the wife of a former governor of Old Anambra State, Chief Jim Ifeanyichukwu Nwobodo, for her failure to prosecute the case.
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The ruling, delivered by His Worship D.K. Ekoh at the Enugu South Magisterial District, followed the persistent absence of the complainants since the inception of the matter in January 2026.
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The defendants, Ezeh Patrick Muoneke, 46; Arinze Onoja, 26; Sedro Theodore, 28; and Basil Ogbuanu, 56, were arraigned on January 20, 2026, on charges bordering on conspiracy, deprivation of liberty, and assault.
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The four- count charge levelled against them read:
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“That you Eze Patrick Muoneke ‘m’, Arinze Only a ‘m’, on the 16th day of January, 2026 at about 1300hours at Patin-Son Estate, Ozubulu Street, Independence Layout, Enugu within Enugu Magisterial District did conspire among themselves to commit misdemeanor to wit: Deprivation of Liberty and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 496(a) of the Criminal Code, Cap 30, Vol. 11 the Revise Laws of Enugu State, 2004.
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Count 11: That you Ede Patrick Muoneke ‘m’, Arinze Onoja ‘m’, Sedro Theodore ‘m’ and Ogbuanu Basil ‘m’ on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District did unlawfully confine the movement and detain Mrs Patricia M. Nwobodo ‘f’ against her will from 11hours to 13hours and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 316 of the Criminal Code, Cap 30, Vol. 11 the Revise Laws of Enugu State 2004.
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Count 111: That you Ede Patrick Muoneke ‘m’, Arinze Onoja ‘m’, Sedro Theodore ‘m’ and Ogbuanu Basil ‘m’ on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District did unlawfully confine the movement and detain Police Constable Ugwu Emmanuel ‘m’ against his will from 1100hours to 1300hours and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 316 of the Criminal Code, Cap 30, Vol. 11 the Revise Laws of Enugu State, 2004.
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Count IV: That you Ede Patrick Muoneke ‘m’ Arinze Onoja ‘m’, Sedro Theodore and Ogbuanu Basil ‘m’ on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District did unlawfully assault Police Constable Ugwu Emmanuel ‘m’ by beating him all over his body and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 252 of the Criminal Code, Cap 30, Vol. 11 the Revise Laws of Enugu State, 2004.
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However, during the proceedings on April 15, 2026, the police prosecutor, B.C. Nnadozie, admitted that he had not seen the complainants since the matter started.
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Nnadozie told the court that he could not “manufacture oath” or serve witness statements on the defence as he had no contact with the nominal complainants.
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Counsel for the defendants, Emeka Oko, urged the court to dismiss the charge, noting that his clients, who are busy artisans and a Lagos resident, had suffered by traveling to Enugu for a case the complainants were not interested in pursuing.
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Delivering his ruling, Magistrate Ekoh lambasted the conduct of the complainants, describing it as a clear indication of their lack of desire to prosecute the matter.
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“A complainant whose complaint was investigated and to her knowledge is aware of the charge proffered against the defendants decides to stay in her luxury home without prosecuting her complaint, should as well pay damages to the person(s) she wrongfully complained against”, he said
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The court subsequently struck out the charge and ordered that the defendants must not be re-arrested on the strength of the same complaint.
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The trial Magistrate also granted the application for N1m cost against the complainant to be paid to the defendants.
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