Ohafia Kingship Dispute: Power Struggles, Allegations, and Escalating Tensions in Okon Aku

The unresolved kingship dispute in Okon Aku, Ohafia Local Government Area, Abia State, has assumed an alarming and volatile dimension, as grave allegations are now being levelled against the Deputy Governor of Abia State, Rt. Hon. Ikechukwu Emetu.

Multiple community sources contend that the unrest is being aggravated by the alleged abuse of executive authority and political influence.
Ohafia Local Government Area, the ancestral homeland of the Deputy Governor, is renowned for a time-honoured traditional system in which the kingship stool rotates exclusively within a designated ruling lineage. This arrangement, firmly rooted in custom and upheld by communal consensus, endured uninterrupted for generations. However, this long-established order reportedly came under threat following the 2023/2024 political transition, coinciding with the emergence of the Labour Party–led government in Abia State.

Credible accounts from within the community indicate that the crisis was triggered by alleged efforts to upend this traditional framework through the proposed installation of a monarch from a lineage or community outside the recognised ruling family. It is further alleged that the preferred candidate for the throne maintains a longstanding personal relationship with the Deputy Governor, including reported logistical support during widely publicised fuel distribution exercises.

These developments have been widely interpreted as politically driven and were categorically rejected by the people of Okon Aku, who insist that ancestral traditions must not be sacrificed on the altar of political expediency.

Following this resistance, community members allege that instruments of state power were deployed to intimidate and silence dissenting voices.
The situation deteriorated dramatically on Friday, January 2, 2026, with the killing of Hon. Igwe Akuma, a young man reportedly attacked at the height of this conflict. The tragedy is further compounded by the fact that the deceased was scheduled to wed on January 6, 2026, just days after his death.

Community sources allege that the violence was perpetrated by hired thugs allegedly sponsored by influential political actors. While these allegations are yet to be judicially determined, they undeniably warrant an immediate, thorough, and transparent investigation.

The crisis has since deepened, with confirmed reports that several innocent citizens were held at the SCID Police Headquarters, Umuahia, for periods exceeding constitutionally permissible limits. It has also been stated on record that these detentions were carried out based on an alleged “order from above.”

Among those reportedly detained for over 96 hours without arraignment are notable individuals, including Hon. Ekea Udensi, former Chairman of Ohafia Local Government Area and former Commissioner with the Abia State Universal Basic Education Board (ASUBEB), as well as Madam Grace Udensi Kalu, Mr Nmecha Udensi, and Mr Nnana Oformba.

Observers within the community have described these arrests as selective and politically motivated, noting that most of the detainees are members or affiliates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). This has raised serious concerns about political persecution disguised as crisis control.

Many residents of Abia State now question whether Governor Alex Otti is fully informed of actions allegedly being undertaken in his name. Governor Otti is widely perceived as a leader committed to justice, due process, and the protection of fundamental human rights. Consequently, it is difficult for many to reconcile these reported developments with the principles his administration espouses—particularly the prolonged detention of citizens without court appearance, the alleged seizure of detainees’ phones by the Deputy Governor, refusal to hand them over to the police, and reported acts of maltreatment, all of which constitute clear violations of fundamental rights under Nigerian law.

In view of the foregoing, and in the interest of justice, accountability, and lasting peace, we hereby make the following demands:

1). An independent and comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of Hon. Igwe Akuma.

2). A public apology from the Deputy Governor to the Udensi family and all others allegedly subjected to intimidation, unlawful detention, and inhumane treatment.

3). A firm and immediate intervention by Governor Alex Otti to restrain his deputy and halt further escalation, as the present course poses a grave threat to communal harmony and the moral authority of the government.

History consistently reminds us that power is transient, and its exercise must be tempered by wisdom, restraint, and accountability. No administration can credibly claim to champion good governance while simultaneously eroding justice, tradition, and the rule of law.

Governance must never devolve into an instrument for personal ambition or political vendetta.

We therefore appeal earnestly to the Governor of Abia State not to allow the alleged excesses of his deputy to eclipse the notable achievements of his administration. The peace of Ohafia, the integrity of its traditional institutions, and the credibility of the Abia State Government hang in the balance.

Signed:
Chukwuma Trust
Abia Vanguard