The leading Igbo socio-cultural group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, has denied reports claiming it advised former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, to withdraw from the 2027 presidential election.
In a statement released on Tuesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Dr. Ezechi Chukwu, the group described the rumours as “mischief-driven” and said they did not come from the official Ohanaeze leadership.
According to Dr. Chukwu, the fake reports also falsely claimed that Ohanaeze warned northern leaders not to support Obi’s political ambition. He dismissed the reports as the work of what he called “clandestine starving street urchins” who use the Ohanaeze name for political games.
“Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has been alerted to a misleading report circulating on social media alleging that the apex Igbo body warned Mr. Peter Obi against contesting the 2027 presidential election,” the statement read. “We categorically state that no such statement came from us.”
He stressed that the group, led by Senator John Azuta Mbata (President-General), Prince Okey Nwadinobi (Deputy President-General), and Emeka Sibeudu (Secretary-General), remains committed to justice, equity, and national development, but has not endorsed any candidate for 2027.
Ohanaeze also urged Nigerians and the media to ignore statements from people posing as representatives of the group to push personal or political interests.
The group reaffirmed its non-partisan stance and promised to continue standing for the interest of Ndigbo and Nigeria as a whole.
