For four years, the Igbo community in the United Kingdom has witnessed a needless and deeply damaging division within its foremost socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo UK. What began as a flawed election that produced a largely women-led executive including a woman president in a historically patriarchal organisation, has since evolved into something far deeper than a procedural dispute. It has become a crisis of identity, rooted in a deviation from the cultural foundation upon which Ohanaeze was built.
As the Ohanaeze UK – Political faction (led by women) prepares for its scheduled election on 15 November 2025, this moment demands sober reflection. If allowed to proceed, the exercise risks entrenching the current division and undermining the unity, structure, and cultural integrity of Ndigbo in the diaspora, all under the watch of the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide – Political, Senator John Mbata.
The genesis of this schism is not in dispute. Four years ago, a flawed electoral process produced an outcome that, while perhaps forgivable in a growing diaspora organisation, ran contrary to the time-honoured cultural and traditional order of Igbo society. Our heritage, steeped in wisdom and balance, has always recognised the complementary but distinct roles of men and women.
This principle is not one of suppression but of structure, a system that has sustained our families, communities, and institutions for generations. It is the same principle that guided the formation of Ohanaeze Ndigbo – Cultural & Traditional (Men’s Wing) and the Ohanaeze Ndigbo UK Women Wing, two bodies that have remained faithful to the authentic spirit of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide.
To be clear, the positions of the Ohanaeze – Cultural & Traditional and Women Wings are neither discriminatory nor regressive. They represent a conscious effort to preserve the balance of our heritage. The impressive achievements of the Women Wing under Chief Mrs Victoria Eberendu, from awarding scholarships and supporting widows to promoting the Igbo language and culture, demonstrate that respecting structure does not hinder progress. In fact, it enhances it.
Their success, built within the framework of cultural complementarity, stands as proof that our traditional system works. If it isn’t broken, why fix it? Why dismantle a structure that empowers women to excel while preserving the integrity of our customs?
By contrast, the Ohanaeze UK – Political faction (led by women) appears to have drifted from these guiding principles. Concerns raised by stakeholders point to constitutional breaches, allegations of financial irregularities including an unaccounted £12,000 and an apparent disregard for due process and inclusive dialogue.
The upcoming election, rather than offering a path to reconciliation, risks becoming a coronation that cements division. It prioritises political expediency over cultural continuity, a path that leads to permanent fracture, not unity. A legacy that will become that of the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide – Political, Senator John Mbata.
The Way Forward
At https://igbofacts.com we align with the voices of reason across Ndigbo and the diaspora and call for the following urgent steps:
1. Immediate Cancellation of the November 15 Election: Proceeding with this election would be an act of self-interest over communal peace. It would legitimise disunity and betray the overwhelming desire of Ndigbo in the UK for a culturally grounded, united organisation.
2. Establishment of a Neutral Transition Committee: The Ohanaeze Ndigbo UK – Political must suspend its electoral process and work collaboratively with the Ohanaeze Ndigbo – Cultural & Traditional and Women Wings to form a Transition Committee. This committee should address the financial and administrative irregularities, reconcile all parties, and develop a clear roadmap for a unified Ohanaeze Ndigbo UK.
3. Adoption of the Constitutional Ohanaeze Model: True unity lies in the structure provided by the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide Constitution, a main body, a Women’s Wing, and a Youth Wing. This model reflects our heritage of organised harmony and remains the only framework capable of standing firm within the UK’s structured legal environment.
We call for Unity Through Tradition: A united Ohanaeze Ndigbo UK is essential for the preservation of Igbo identity in the diaspora. But unity must not come at the cost of cultural erosion. It must be a unity rooted in mutual respect, guided by tradition, and inspired by the complementary strengths of both men and women.
The time for decisive action is now. The responsibility lies partly with Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide – Political, led by the President General, Senator John Mbata, and squarely with the Ohanaeze UK – Political, led by women, to step back from the brink and help rebuild an Ohanaeze Ndigbo that is both strong and authentically Igbo.
They can choose to be remembered as the group that deepened division or as the one that restored unity and cultural integrity. The choice is theirs, but the consequences will be borne by all of us. A consequence that may include a call for a Worldwide Conference of Ndigbo Worldwide to elect a President General for Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide – Cultural & Traditional.
OHANAEZE!!!
