The apex Igbo socio-cultural body, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, has refuted claims that it barred Igbos from contesting the 2027 presidential election, insisting that any Igbo person is free to run for president under any political party of their choice.
This clarification follows a statement issued at the weekend by a renegade faction masquerading as Ohanaeze Ndigbo leadership. The group, in a release signed by its Deputy President General, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, and National Spokesman, Chief Thompson Ohia, in Abakaliki, had declared that no Igbo man would contest against incumbent President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027.
The faction claimed that after a crucial meeting with Southeast political leaders, Imeobi and Nzukoumunna, they resolved that the possibility of the Southeast producing a Nigerian president could only be achieved in 2035, not 2027.
But in a strongly worded rebuttal issued on Wednesday, August 27, 2025, the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Senator John Azuta-Mbata, dismissed the claims as false and misleading.
“Any Igbo person who belongs to a political party and wants to contest any elections whatsoever in 2027 is free to do so,” Mbata said in a statement.
He described publications suggesting otherwise as fake news. “Any publications to the contrary did not originate from Ohanaeze Ndigbo and should be discountenanced by the entirety of Ndigbo,” he declared.
Senator Mbata stressed that Ohanaeze Ndigbo is a socio-cultural organization, not a political party, and therefore lacks the authority to decide who should or should not run for office. “Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide is a socio-cultural organization of Ndigbo and not a political party. As such, Ohanaeze is not in a position to say, dictate, or even advise on who should and shouldn’t contest elections in Nigeria in 2027 or at any time for that matter,” the statement read.
He further urged Ndigbo to remain politically active and pursue their aspirations without fear. “Ndigbo are advised to continue their lawful political activities in the various political parties of their choice and membership,” Mbata added.
The clarification seeks to put to rest the controversy stirred by the factional group and reaffirms the right of all Igbo sons and daughters to participate fully in the 2027 general elections.
President Ahmed Bola Tinubu & his cohorts in the southeast are very shameless & can’t stop at any extent just to remain in office that they can’t be productive.