Tension is mounting in Amankanu Autonomous Community in Oduma, Aninri local government area of Enugu State, following a petition sent to Governor Peter Mbah over an alleged plot to impose a traditional ruler on the people.
The petition, titled “SOS: A Threat to Peace and Tradition in Amankanu Autonomous Community”, accused the Aninri local government chairman, Prince Ugochukwu Nwanjoku, of attempting to subvert the community’s gazetted constitution and impose his in-law as traditional ruler.
The petition, signed by Chief Charles Mbah on behalf of the Concerned Citizens of Amankanu, described the move as a “bold and illegal attempt” by the chairman to override the traditional rotational kingship system entrenched in the community’s constitution, last updated and gazetted in 2017/2018.
According to the petitioners, the kingship in Amankanu rotates between Group A (Amankanu Ndi Ulo) and Group B (Amankanu Ndi Egu), based strictly on seniority. After Umuoro, the most senior village in Group A, failed to present a candidate within six months, the kingship right was transferred to Umuogwudu, who subsequently elected Chief Innocent Okorie Ekpete as Igwe-elect in 2018 – a process the community said was lawful and widely accepted.
However, the petition alleged that Prince Ugochukwu Nwanjoku has now sidelined this process to promote his in-law, Ajosh Ukwuoma – a man reportedly married into Nwanjoku’s family and who, according to the petition, lacks the traditional and constitutional qualifications for kingship.
The situation reportedly escalated on October 7, 2025, when the chairman convened what the petitioners described as a “kangaroo meeting” to anoint Ukwuoma as the new traditional ruler.
According to the document, the legitimate town union leadership, including the president general, Comrade Chidubem Ekpete and the secretary, Alor Samuel, refused to attend the meeting after identifying its unconstitutional nature.
Despite their absence, the chairman allegedly went ahead with the declaration in the presence of only his personal aides and loyalists. Disturbingly, he is accused of claiming that his actions were sanctioned by the governor and the commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Hon Okey Ogbodo.
In the strongly worded petition, the people of Amankanu expressed grave concern over what they described as an autocratic behaviour by the local government chairman.
Adding to the controversy, the petitioners revealed that the chieftaincy matter is already before a competent court, with a court hearing held as recently as October 9. They argued that further action on the matter by the Chairman constitutes contempt of court and threatens the judicial process.
The petitioners issued four urgent appeals (prayers) to Governor Mbah to launch a transparent probe into Prince Ugochukwu Nwanjoku’s alleged interference in traditional leadership matters take measures to stop the chairman and his aides from harassing or persecuting community leaders, recognise that the matter is before the court, and ensure that no government official acts in a manner that would amount to contempt of the judicial system.
The Concerned Citizens emphasised that the governor’s prompt and decisive intervention is critical not only to restore peace in Amankanu but also to safeguard the rule of law and protect the integrity of traditional institutions across the state.
