ENUGU:Umuagba Owa Elects New Igwe in a Peaceful, Historic Election After Five-Year Leadership Vacuum.
History was made in Umuagba Owa Autonomous Community, Imezi-Owa, Ezeagu Local Government Area of Enugu State, as the people peacefully elected a new traditional ruler after more than five years of leadership vacuum. The much-anticipated Igweship election, which took place at the Community Primary School, Abonuzu, was conducted under a serene atmosphere and hailed as one of the most transparent and orderly exercises in the history of traditional leadership selections in Ezeagu.
The election was duly supervised by officials from the Enugu State Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy Affairs, and Rural Development, while a delegation from Ezeagu Local Government Area—led by the Deputy Mayor and the Deputy Leader of the Legislative Council—monitored proceedings to ensure fairness and compliance with due process.
Security arrangements were top-notch, with the presence of officers from the Divisional Police Headquarters, Ezeagu, operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), and members of the Neighbourhood Watch Group, guaranteeing a peaceful environment for delegates and observers
In strict adherence to the community’s constitution, each of the twelve villages that make up Umuagba Owa Autonomous Community presented ten delegates—seven males and three females—bringing the total number of accredited delegates to 114, with all casting valid votes. The election adopted the Option A4 voting system, allowing for open, transparent, and verifiable results.
At the end of the exercise, Chief Benedict Madubueze Adinde emerged victorious as the Igwe-elect of Umuagba Owa Autonomous Community, a result that was met with widespread jubilation among indigenes and residents who described the outcome as “a divine restoration of unity and leadership.”
Addressing the community shortly after his victory, Chief Adinde expressed profound gratitude to the Enugu State Government and the Ministry of Chieftaincy Affairs, led by Deacon Okey Ogbodo, for their unwavering commitment to justice, transparency, and grassroots development. He pledged to provide impactful, inclusive, and people-oriented leadership, calling on all sons and daughters of Umuagba Owa to join hands in rebuilding and repositioning the community for greater glory.
The Deputy Mayor of Ezeagu LGA, Hon. Mrs. Nkiru Ugwuagu, commended the community for conducting themselves peacefully throughout the process. She congratulated the Igwe-elect and urged him to uphold the trust reposed in him by leading with wisdom, fairness, and integrity.
Similarly, the Deputy Leader of the Ezeagu Legislative Council, Hon. Obidimma Okafor, alongside notable personalities such as Chief Linus Ndubuisi, Comr. Sylvanus, and Chief Felix Anah, applauded the credible and transparent conduct of the election. They noted that Umuagba Owa had “set a new standard of democratic discipline and unity for other communities in Enugu State to emulate.”
Representing the Ministry of Chieftaincy Affairs, Mrs. Ozoagu lauded the organizers for their coordination and commitment to due process, describing the election as “a model for community-driven leadership transition.”
In his closing remarks, the President General of Umuagba Owa Autonomous Community, Comr. Sampson Ike, expressed heartfelt appreciation to the supervisory ministry, local government officials, and security agencies for ensuring a peaceful and credible election. He described the day as “a turning point and a new dawn for Umuagba Owa,” symbolizing the restoration of leadership, unity, and hope after years of uncertainty.
With the emergence of Chief Benedict Madubueze Adinde as Igwe-elect, the people of Umuagba Owa have not only filled a long-standing leadership vacuum but have also rekindled the spirit of peace, progress, and cooperation that defines the heart of Ezeagu tradition and identity.
