Crisis Brews in Udi as Community Accuses LG Officials of Imposing Village Leadership

A fresh crisis is brewing in Udi Local Government Area of Enugu State following allegations that officials of the council attempted to unlawfully remove the elected leadership of Omaduwenu Village in Ebe Community and impose a new executive through what residents described as an illegal election.

Leaders and elders of the village have accused top officials of the Udi Local Government Council of interfering in the community's internal affairs by allegedly supervising a controversial village election on Saturday, August 1, 2026, despite the existence of a validly elected executive and pending court cases over land disputes.

The community alleged that the exercise was led by the Vice Chairman of Udi Local Government Council, Hon. Eze Nwamadu, alongside the APC Chairman in Udi LGA, Hon. Bona Madu, and a security aide to the council chairman, who they claimed played active roles in the process.

According to the village leaders, Omaduwenu has a democratically elected executive that emerged in May 2023 for a four-year tenure, with no vacancy or leadership crisis warranting another election.

They alleged that the controversy stemmed from a dispute over the allocation of community land after demands for additional allocations by members of the Umuijeoyabor family were rejected by the village leadership. The disagreement, they said, resulted in two separate suits currently pending before the Ebe Customary Court.

The elders argued that rather than allowing the judicial process to determine the issues in dispute, some political actors allegedly sought to remove the incumbent leadership through what they described as an irregular election.

They further maintained that the three hamlets that make up Omaduwenu Village had separately informed the Udi Local Government Vice Chairman that the community remained peaceful and that no leadership dispute existed.

According to them, residents only became aware of the planned election late on Friday after a message was circulated on the village's communication platform by a younger brother of the Udi Local Government Chairman, whom they identified as an APC member.

They claimed that local government officials arrived at the venue accompanied by police officers and proceeded with the exercise without adequate notice, consultation or the participation of the wider community.

The elders alleged that the officials conducted the election themselves and selected individuals of their choice to occupy leadership positions, including a security aide to the Udi Local Government Chairman serving with the Forest Guard.

Describing the development as a direct assault on the village's democratic process and the rule of law, the community leaders warned that any attempt to enforce the outcome of the election or remove the incumbent executive could trigger a breakdown of law and order.

They also expressed concern that security agencies could be deployed to install the newly announced leadership despite the subsisting tenure of the current executive.

The leaders appealed to Governor Peter Mbah to urgently intervene by directing the Udi Local Government Council and those allegedly involved to desist from actions capable of destabilising the community. They also urged the state government to investigate the circumstances surrounding the election and publicly distance itself from claims that the exercise enjoyed official backing.

According to the elders, the people of Omaduwenu remain committed to peace but insist that any change in village leadership must follow the community's established procedures and due process, rather than political interference or force.

As of the time of filing this report, the Udi Local Government Council had not responded to the allegations. Efforts to obtain the council's reaction were unsuccessful.