Aggrieved citizens of Ikembara autonomous community in Ikeduru local government area of Imo State have vehemently rejected the purported scheduled election of a new traditional ruler for the community.
The citizens acting under the aegis of Ikembara Concerned Citizens in a press release signed by Mr Ebere Obi refuted the said election and described it as a sinister move by Chief Linus Ihedinma and his group to impose a new Eze- elect on the community without following due process as stipulated by the Constitution of Ikembara autonomous community.
The concerned citizens alleged that the group scheduled an impromptu election for a new Eze — elect without duly informing the community and interested parties.
According to the protesting concerned citizens, the organizers only notified the community through a local town crier at 11pm when majority of people were deep asleep for an election it scheduled to take place the next morning of Saturday 20th September 2025
The Concerned Citizens described the act as a total deceit and a conspiracy to deny the community the right to elect its rightful Eze.
They dismissed the purported election because of the organizers inability to notify both the statutory delegates and the popular aspirant, Mr Cornelius Okpoebo.
The concerned citizens averred that the group that organized the said election was predetermined to set the community on the route of crisis and called on the state government, security agencies and the ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs to be aware that all interested parties were not duly notified.
The Concerned Citizens said the purported election was a total act of subversion of the will of the people of Ikembara autonomous community and must not be accepted.
They also described the election as a glaring act of aggression and insult to the people and expressed a total rejection of the exercise as the candidate the group has selected will be totally rejected by the community.
