The Chidi Ibeh-led faction of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, yesterday, insisted that the next President General of the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation must come from River State, noting that the Constitution of Ohanaeze allows for rotation of the office of the President General in alphabetical order.

The Secretary General of faction, Okechukwu Isiguzoro, stated this in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, after meeting with a delegation from the Rivers women known as Umuokpu and Umuada Nwanyi Igbo Federation, who were in a fact-finding mission to assess the potential of Rivers State producing the next President General of the organisation in 2025.

Isiguzoro expressed appreciation for the visit, commending Governor Siminalayi Fubara for providing an enabling environment for the successful hosting of the 2023 Igbo Day Celebration in Port Harcourt, which was held on September 28 and 29, adding that it was a significant gathering for the Igbo nation.

Isiguzoro assured the visitors that the Constitution of Ohanaeze allows for the rotation of the office of the President General in alphabetical order, noting that after Imo State’s tenure on January 10, 2025, a new President General from Rivers State will lead the Igbo community from January 11, 2025.

He emphasised that nothing will change the emergence of a President General from Rivers on the set date, warning against any illegitimate extension of the current President General’s tenure.

Isiguzoro said that even though Ohanaeze have not lifted the embargo on open campaigning, he urged Umuokpu Igbo Women in Rivers to inform their qualified presidential aspirants to begin consultative meetings across the seven Igbo-speaking states of Abia, Anambra, Anioma in Delta, Ebonyi, Enugu, Imo and Rivers states.

The leader of Umuokpu and Umuada Nwanyi Igbo Forum in Rivers State, Roseline Amadi, expressed gratitude to the apex Igbo organisation for their support and recognition of Rivers State through the successful hosting of the Igbo Day Celebration in Port Harcourt.