Senator John Azuta Mbata’s Leadership  Gets SouthWest Ohanaeze Vote Of  Confidence 

Leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo in the South-West has passed a unanimous vote of confidence in the National Executive Committee (NEC) of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, led by Senator John Azuta Mbata.

The vote of confidence was passed at a two-day Southwest leadership meeting of the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, held in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State capital, between January 23 and 24, 2026.

The meeting brought together leaders, stakeholders and members of the Ohanaeze Southwest Regional Directorate to deliberate on issues affecting the Igbo community in the zone and to chart strategies for advancing their collective interests.

Rising from the meeting, the leadership commended Senator Mbata and members of the NEC for what they described as purposeful leadership, unity-building efforts and commitment to the progress of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide.

Presenting a report of the NEC’s activities in its first year in office, the Southwest Coordinator of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Everest Ozonweke, said the committee had recorded notable achievements, as highlighted during the last Ime-obi meeting in Enugu.

According to him, key milestones include the ongoing construction of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Secretariat, now about 80 per cent completed, the review of the Ohanaeze Worldwide constitution, strategic engagement with national stakeholders, as well as initiatives focused on socio-economic development, cultural preservation and political advocacy for Alaigbo.

Following the presentation, the President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo in Ekiti State, Chief Alex Ndubisi, moved a motion for a vote of confidence in Senator Mbata’s leadership. The motion was unanimously adopted by delegates from all the Southwest states.

Chief Ozonweke urged members to remain committed to the objectives of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, stressing that unity and collective action were critical to securing a better future for the Igbo community in the Southwest and Nigeria as a whole.

The meeting also emphasised the need for strategic partnerships with state governments and host communities across the Southwest, with leaders noting that sustained engagement would promote mutual understanding, peaceful coexistence and shared socio-economic growth.

Participants further discussed upcoming programmes of the organisation, including the Igbo Adoration and Thanksgiving Day scheduled for January 31, as proclaimed by Ohanaeze Worldwide in collaboration with Igbo clergy. The leadership resolved that the prayer session would be observed in all Ohanaeze secretariats across the Southwest.

In another major decision, the meeting approved the appointment of a seven-member Peace and Reconciliation Committee to address the leadership crisis within Ohanaeze Ndigbo in Ondo State. The committee was mandated to engage both factions and facilitate dialogue aimed at genuine reconciliation.

The Southwest leadership expressed appreciation to Mr. Fisayo Ishola for his support and hospitality, which they said contributed to the success of the meeting.

Dignitaries at the meeting included the President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo in Oyo State, Mr. Okechukwu Umeh Nwabunike; President of Ohanaeze Osun State, Pastor John Dike; Acting President of Ohanaeze Ondo State, Onyeoma Chris Ezea; President of Ohanaeze Ogun State, Ozor Stephen Okorie; Secretary of Ohanaeze Lagos State, Mr. Robert Obasi; President of Ohanaeze Ekiti State, Chief Alex Ndubisi; state secretaries of Ohanaeze Ndigbo in the Southwest and other stakeholders.

The leadership reaffirmed its loyalty to the ideals of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, noting that the vote of confidence in Senator Mbata and his NEC reflected the trust of members and their resolve to strengthen the organisation’s influence and cohesion across the region.