Uwaorie Town Union Leadership Tussle: Hon. Eugene Dibiagwu’s Intervention And The Call For A Peaceful Dialogue

The tension that gripped the people of Umukpo, Uwaorie Autonomous Community in Oguta LGA, Imo State, shortly after the town union election of the community on the 13th of June, 2026; may have abated.

This is as a result of the quick intervention of Hon. Eugene Okechukwu Dibiagwu, Member representing the good people of Ohaji/Egbema, Oguta and Oru West Federal Constituency in Imo State, to ensure continued peace, stability and development of the community.

Though, the election was held at the instance of the state Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, through Oguta LGA Chairman, Hon. Ifeanyi Nnani.

Prior to the election, the incumbent president general of Uwaorie Autonomous Community, Mr. Kingsley Akubuiro, however, approached Oguta High Court, where he, alongside his Exco members secured a court injunction, stopping the conduct of the election.

Despite the court injunction, the Oguta LGA chairman was said to have gone ahead with the election, which saw the emergence of Hon. Maximian Okedu as -the newly elected president general of Umukpo Uwaorie Autonomous Community, alongside his Exco members.

However, having learned about the conduct of the election, Mr. Kingsley Akubuiro and his Exco went back to court, where the presiding Judge of the court, declared the election that produced Hon. Maximian Okedu and his Exco as null and void.

The incumbent president general, Mr. Kingsley Akubuiro and his Exco in their view, went to court to affirm that their tenure has not expired, pointing out that the election that produced their leadership was duly communicated to the local government chairman, who according to Mr. Kingsley Akubuiro, gave them an acknowledgement letter.

In the same vein, the traditional ruler of Uwaorie Autonomous Community, Agwa, Oguta LGA, Imo State, HRH Eze Dr. Albanus Onyema Ozuruoha (Eze Chinyereugo 1), who spoke on his misunderstanding with the president general elect, Hon. Maximian Okedu, since 2008, alleged that he was being sponsored by some persons to cause violence in the community, hence the reason why he (Eze Ozuruoha) appealed to the LGA chairman to extend the conduct of the election till January, 2027 after he might have finished his proposed Eze-ship coronation, come December, 2026, as he was not opposed to the election.

Eze Albanus Ozuruoha, further disclosed that he was alleged to have embezzled money that was meant for the community, in order to tarnish his image by some persons in the community.

The traditional ruler in the meantime, disclosed that some of the individuals that took him to court, have regrouped to fight him in the name of election. He equally emphasised that the decision to go on with the election, despite the court order by the council chairman, prompted the Mr. Kingsley Akubuiro led leadership to approach the court for an injunction to stop the conduct of the election, since their administration was yet to elapse.

Eze Chinyereugo 1 opined that the incumbent president general later approached the court for a second time, where the election was set aside. He equally affirmed that the election that produced the Kingsley Akubuiro’s led Exco, though not during Hon. Ifeanyi Nnani’s administration, added that a letter for the outcome of the election was presented and endorsed by Hon. Ifeanyi Nnani and not as a caretaker Exco.

Eze Albanus Ozuruoha, who is the Secretary, Oguta LGA Council of Traditional Rulers, Imo State, posited that he had documents to back up his claims. He was emphatic that his reason to seek for the extension of the election was based on past incidents in the community, where his moulded blocks were destroyed during crisis, when he initially planned to carry out the coronation ceremony.

The monarch further disclosed that the town union election that produced the leadership of Mr. Kingsley Akubuiro was held at Rockview Hotel, Owerri, because of the insecurity in Agwa then, and was done by branch union delegates, as stipulated in the town union constitution.

Lending his voice on the matter at the Frank & Gene office of Hon. Eugene Okechukwu Dibiagwu on the 17th of July, 2026; Hon. Ifeanyi Nnani, the Executive Chairman of Oguta LGA, Imo State, maintained that the election was conducted based on the directive from the state’s Ministry of Chieftaincy and Local Government Affairs.

The council boss maintained that elections were said to be held across communities, whose president general tenure has elapsed. He stated that Uwaorie Autonomous happened to be one of such communities that their Exco operated as a caretaker executive.

Hon. Ifeanyi Nnani disclosed that elections have been conducted in some communities, while he is being reminded by the ministry to ensure the conduct of the remaining elections in the affected communities, as soon as possible.

Speaking earlier, Hon. Eugene Okechukwu Dibiagwu, Member representing the good people of Ohaji/Egbema, Oguta and Oru West Federal Constituency at the Federal House of Representatives, said the essence of the meeting was to ensure that the people of Umukpo -Uwaorie Autonomous Community continued to live in peace.

The House of Representatives Member, who welcomed and thanked the traditional ruler of Uwaorie Autonomous Community, HRH Eze Dr. Albanus Onyema Ozuruoha (Eze Chinyereugo 1) of Uwaorie Autonomous Community, Agwa, expressed his regard and respect for traditional rulers, not just the Eze alone.

The lawmaker in the meantime, made it known to the people of Umukpo -Uwaorie Autonomous Community that the Hon. Maximian Okedu led executive is the only Exco recognised by the state government, as their names have been transmitted to the state government.

He equally emphasised that the election has been held and cannot be withdrawn, since the recommendation letter that was issued to the incumbent Exco was on a caretaker basis. Hon. Eugene Dibiagwu in the meantime, appealed to the incumbent president general, Mr. Kingsley Akubuiro to understand that there is always an opportunity ahead; hence, the need to come together, for the interest and good of all and sundry members of the community.

The House Committee Chairman on Regional Development also pointed out that 98 percent of Agwa indegines are from Agwa, because of their intermarriage, hence the need to always love one another, than to engage in violent activity that would destroy lives and property in the community.

Hon. Eugene Okechukwu Dibiagwu went further to elucidate what Uwaorie Community stands to benefit from the oil companies operating in the area, if the president-elect, Hon. Maximian Okedu works closely with the traditional ruler of the community. He pointed out that the synergy between the Eze and the PG, will provide an opportunity for the indegines to carry out local content jobs in the oil companies operating in their community, which will in turn, bring about patronage to the local farmers by the local content contractors, as well as circulation of money within the community.

The Federal lawmaker was of the view that the community youth have the right to stage a peaceful protest in the oil companies, if the local content jobs meant for the community were given out to contractors outside the community.

Speaking on the Petroleum Industrial Act (PIA) Fund, Hon. Eugene Okechukwu Dibiagwu made it known to the people that it is not easy for an individual to access the fund, and why an individual cannot be accused of embezzling the fund, because it passes through processes.

He used the medium to sound a note of warning to those in the community that are known for insulting the traditional ruler, HRH Eze Dr. Albanus Onyema Ozuruoha in the community, affirming not to take it lightly with them, moving forward.

The Eugene of Imo Politics, who made it clear that the town union PG must work together with the Eze in Council; in the same vein, assured HRH Eze Albanus Ozuruoha of his unalloyed support to his proposed New Yam Festival and Book Launch, slated for 31st December, 2026.

Of those alleged to be sponsoring the president -elect, Hon. Maximian Okedu to cause division and violence in the community from outside, Hon. Eugene Okechukwu Dibiagwu was emphatic that the activities of such persons would be critically analysed and dealt with, if it proves otherwise.

The House Member, who drew an inference from the traditional institution in the Northern and Western parts of the country to the traditional institution in the Eastern part of the country (Igbo Land), spoke on the importance of the traditional institution and the need for the indegines of Uwaorie Autonomous Community to accord such respect to their traditional ruler, as done in the North and the West.

However, Hon. Eugene Okechukwu Dibiagwu, who based his speech on the peaceful coexistence of Agwa people, particularly to those in Uwaorie Autonomous Community, before granting the traditional ruler, HRH Eze Dr. Albanus Ozuruoha and the incumbent president general, Mr. Kingsley Akubuiro audiences, realized from their submissions that the said town union election matter was already in court, hence his decision to withdraw from speaking on the matter, and appealed to the parties to seek for an out of court settlement, for the peace, unity and development of the community.

The performing lawmaker in the meantime, charged Hon. Maximian Okedu, to take advantage of the peace window; as that would serve as a litmus test to his leadership capability that would herald the proposed second phase reconciliatory meeting by him (the Reps Member).

Meanwhile, Hon. Maximian Okedu in his closing remarks at the peace meeting, lauded Hon. Eugene Okechukwu Dibiagwu for his selfless efforts in ensuring continued peace in Uwaorie, as well as Hon. Ifeanyi Nnani, Hon. Gilbert Nwosu, Hon. Modestus Nwamkpa and Hon. Williams Ejiakor, for their numerous supports and selfless commitment to the peace and development of Uwaorie Autonomous Community.

It is expected that the duo of Hon. Maximian Okedu and Mr. Kingsley Akubuiro will take advantage of the peace window that has been opened by Hon. Eugene Okechukwu Dibiagwu, to ensure possible coming together of their respective Executive members, for the peace, unity, development and progress of Umukpo -Uwaorie Autonomous Community.

Some of the political stakeholders at the reconciliatory meeting include: the Executive Chairman, Oguta LGA, Hon. Ifeanyi Nnani; Hon. Gilbert Nwosu, Member Representing Oguta State Constituency at the Imo State House of Assembly; Hon. Modestus Nwamkpa, SA to Governor Hope Uzodimma on Electronic Media; and Hon. Williams Ejiakor, among others.

Comr. Blaise Tochukwu Elumezie
Publisher & Media Consultant, Wrote In From PortHarcourt, The Rivers State Capital.