Ebonyi community resists imposition of traditional ruler
By Emma Ogbuehi
The otherwise peaceful and fun-filled process of selecting a traditional ruler which most communities celebrate with fanfare turned violent in Mgbom N’Achara community, Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State on Wednesday, May 1, 2025, as the council chairman, Hon. Chinonso Aja Consider, allegedly disrupted the peaceful electoral exercise, leading to the brutal assault of a state government representative.
The incident, which took place at Mgbom Central School, Okposi, during the conduct of a community organized election for the Ezeship (traditional ruler), left several injured, including Mr. Chukwuma Uchebe, an aide representing the Ebonyi State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Uchenna Igwe.
The exercise, according to residents who spoke to TheNiche, was proceeding orderly under the supervision of a community electoral committee headed by Dr. Aja Uwa, a university lecturer and legislative aide to a serving senator. Eligible voters had been accredited and had begun lining up behind their preferred candidates in accordance with the community’s traditional kindred-based voting method.
Trouble began when Hon. Chinonso Aja arrived at the venue with a personal entourage and forcefully took over the process. Disregarding the community’s time-tested procedure, the council chairman announced a sudden change in voting method, directing candidates to line up with their supporters—a move widely perceived as an attempt to skew the outcome.
When the crowd overwhelmingly queued behind a candidate believed to be unfavoured by the chairman, he abruptly declared the election cancelled, snatching the microphone to announce: “This election has been cancelled.”
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Mr. Uchebe, acting in his official capacity as a state observer, protested the action, stating: “My mission here was to conclude the process and as long as it was conducive for me to do so, we should continue.”
What followed, eyewitnesses say, was a violent scene as Hon. Chinonso Aja returned to the venue with armed thugs. He physically assaulted the commissioner’s aide, seized official documents, and ordered the exercise shut down. The attack, which targeted not just Mr. Uchebe but also community members opposed to the imposition of candidates, was only contained by the intervention of security personnel present at the venue.
“The chairman beat the commissioner’s representative in broad daylight,” a witness said. “It was shameful and an outright abuse of power.”
Mr. Uchebe was rushed for medical treatment following the assault. Community leaders have since described the incident as “a disgraceful breach of public trust” and vowed to resist all efforts to impose an unpopular ruler on Mgbom N’Achara.
Despite the assault, intimidation, and the chairman’s reported use of known political thugs, the community stood their ground. Many described Hon. Chinonso Aja as acting in concert with external interests to undermine the will of the people and destabilize the peace of the land.
“This is not just a political issue, it’s about the soul of our community,” said a prominent youth leader. “We will not accept a puppet imposed on us under the guise of authority.”
As at press time, the Ebonyi State Government is yet to release an official statement. However, calls are intensifying for a full scale investigation, prosecution of all involved, and the protection of the community’s traditional autonomy.
Analysts say the incident highlights the growing concern over the politicization of traditional institutions and misuse of state power in grassroots governance.
