Onitsha remains politically neutral, says Obi-in-Council ahead of Anambra gov election
By Jeffrey Agbo
The Obi-in-Council of Onitsha, Anambra State, has announced that the kingdom will maintain strict political neutrality and will not endorse any candidate in the upcoming governorship election scheduled for November 8, 2025.
In a statement released in Onitsha on Tuesday, the Chief of Staff to the Obi-in-Council, Osita Anionwu, reaffirmed the city’s non-partisan stance, stressing that the commercial hub will not be drawn into partisan politics.
Anionwu stated that while individual Onitsha citizens have the constitutional freedom to support any political party or candidate, such actions must be carried out solely in their personal capacity.
According to the statement, “As Nigeria is a multi-party, plural constitutional democracy, every citizen has the inalienable right to belong to, attend rallies, and canvass for any political party of his or her choice without coercion or force. Onitsha indigenes are mindful of their constitutional rights and belong to various political parties of their own free will.”
He further noted that for the sake of harmony and communal peace, the various constituent groups that make up Onitsha must remain apolitical. “However, for communal cohesion and well-being, all Onitsha constituent groups are, of necessity, politically non-partisan, but rather support and cooperate with duly elected leaderships at all levels of government,” the statement added.
The council acknowledged that some prominent indigenes, including titled chiefs and group leaders, have been invited to political campaign events ahead of the election. It, however, clarified that such attendance should not be mistaken as representing the collective position of the Onitsha community.
“It must be clearly understood that such individuals participate in these activities in their private capacity and not as representatives or leaders of their constituent groups, as they have no mandate to do so,” the council emphasised.
The Obi-in-Council also encouraged eligible voters in Onitsha to exercise their civic duty by registering and voting for candidates of their choice without intimidation or interference.
Additionally, it appealed to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies to ensure a peaceful, transparent and credible election process across Anambra State.
