Crisis Deepens in Izzo Community Over Ezeship Tussle As Principal Secretary, Ishielu Council Boss Fingered

The crisis surrounding the selection of a new traditional ruler in Izzo Autonomous Community, Ishielu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, escalated at the weekend as community leaders levelled allegations of bribery, manipulation, and disregard for due process against two senior government officials.

At the centre of the controversy are the Principal Secretary to the Governor, Chief Mathias Adum, and the Executive Chairman of Ishielu LGA, Mrs. Peace Ifeoma Agwu. The officials were accused of receiving over ₦100 million from one of the contestants, Mr. Monday Ogbule, to disqualify the community’s consensus candidate, Mr. Sunday Orugbala Eche.

The allegations emerged during a tense briefing shortly after Adum announced the disqualification of the community-endorsed candidate at the venue approved for the Ezeship election. Town Union President, Comrade Ikechukwu Ojeogu, condemned the development, insisting that every qualified candidate must be allowed to participate. He argued that “every mature man and woman” in the community reserves the right to freely choose their traditional ruler, describing the officials’ actions as a betrayal of trust.

Also speaking, Secretary-General of Umuigboke Kindred, Comrade Nworie Emeka, alleged that the community had previously released ₦20 million on three separate occasions to an election committee chaired by Adum. He said many residents were shocked when information surfaced about alleged secret financial dealings between the official and a contestant. Another contestant, Mr. Onyema Enwuru, expressed dismay over the sudden shift in the process, saying he had completed all required documentation before being informed that decisions had already been concluded “without due process.” Community stakeholder, Mr. Nwankwo Ogbonna, praised Governor Francis Nwifuru for his developmental strides but expressed worry that some of the governor’s aides were undermining his commitment to transparent leadership selection. He alleged that the officials “received bribes to sell the traditional stool,” insisting that the community rejects “a political traditional ruler.” Former Town Union President, Chief James Enwuru, described the day’s events as destabilizing, noting that the community had anticipated a peaceful contest among the three leading aspirants: Onyema Francis Enwuru, Orugbala Sunday Eche, and Monday Joseph Ogbule. He also questioned Ogbule’s suitability, saying he recently returned from South Africa and lacked deep knowledge of the community’s history and boundaries. Repeated attempts to reach the accused officials were unsuccessful. LGA Chairman, Mrs. Ifeoma Agwu, said she was in a meeting, while Chief Adum neither took calls nor replied messages at the time of filing this report. Meanwhile, stakeholders of Izzo Autonomous Community have called on the Ebonyi State Government to urgently intervene to restore peace and ensure a transparent, credible selection process for the Ezeship stool.