Hundreds of angry residents from Obiangwu community in Ngor Okpala Local Government Area of Imo State took to the streets of Owerri on Wednesday, protesting against what they described as deliberate falsehood and name-dropping of Governor Hope Uzodimma by Hon. Chibuike Agbugba, Leader of the Ngor Okpala Legislative Council.
Led by community leaders and youth groups, the protesters marched to the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, submitting a petition that called for Agbugba’s immediate suspension. They accused him and Dr. Perry Njoku of unilaterally imposing an unauthorized caretaker committee for the Obiangwu Development Union (ODU), a move they said has thrown the community into unrest.
Chief Clement Nwigwe, speaking on behalf of the protesters, disclosed that Obiangwu was already planning a transparent process for selecting a new interim leadership before the LGA chairman, Hon. Chika Ibekwe, allegedly approved a “kangaroo list” handpicked by Agbugba and Njoku without following due process or respecting village representation.
The community insisted that each of its eight villages should nominate one person to fill the nine interim town union positions until proper elections are conducted, a decision unanimously reached during a home-and-abroad stakeholders Zoom meeting held on June 22.
Adding to the outrage, Chief Emmanuel Agbakwuru, APC Ward 10 Chairman, accused Agbugba of falsely claiming that Governor Uzodimma had promised the 2027 Owerri Zone Senate ticket to Prince Alex Mbata—an allegation that has reportedly caused serious disquiet within the APC fold in Ngor Okpala.
Fidelis Okere, another community leader, emphasized that it was the rightful turn of Egbelu village to produce the next ODU president general, warning that the continued imposition of leaders could fracture the community’s unity and political loyalty to the APC.
After their visit to the Local Government Ministry, the protesters also submitted petitions to the offices of the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Chike Olemgbe, and Ngor Okpala’s State Assembly representative, Hon. Obinna Egu, demanding urgent intervention to restore peace and order in the community.
