UPDATED: Sen. John Mbata elected President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo

Former Senator John Mbata, who represented Rivers East at the National Assembly, has emerged as the new President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, the apex socio-cultural organization of the Igbo people.

Mbata was elected during the Ohanaeze Ndigbo General Assembly held at the Old Government Lodge in Enugu on Friday.

His election followed initial confusion caused by a factional announcement naming Barrister Uche Okwukwu, also from Rivers State, as President-General earlier in the day.

Mbata succeeds Nze Ozichukwu Chukwu, who was appointed to complete the tenure of the late Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu from Imo State.

The election, decided by consensus, was attended by governors of Enugu, Imo, and Anambra States, alongside prominent Igbo leaders such as Senators Chris Ngige, Ben Obi, and Victor Umeh.

Other executives elected include:

Prince Okey Nwadinobi (Abia State): National Deputy President

Chief Emeka Sibeidu (Anambra State): Secretary General

Chidera Anieke (Enugu State): National Treasurer

Ezechukwu Ezechi (Imo State): National Publicity Secretary

Okey Ugwu (Ebonyi State): National Legal Adviser

The position of Deputy Secretary General was allocated to Delta State.

In his acceptance speech, Mbata expressed gratitude to the outgoing President-General, Nze Ozichukwu Chukwu, for his leadership and for successfully organizing the elections.

He pledged to lead by example and called for support and collaboration from the governors of the Igbo states to advance the organization’s goals.

“This is a new chapter for Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide,” Mbata stated, emphasizing unity and collective progress for the Igbo nation.