By Ovat Abeng
Tension has been heightened in Nnewichi, Nnewi-North Local Government Area of Anambra State, following allegations of bribery and betrayal that erupted over the weekend among the contenders for zoning of the forthcoming August 26th, 2026 local government chairmanship election slot to Nnewichi.
The Obi of Nnewichi, Chief George Onyekaba, Obidiugwu, who had presented himself as an arrow-head for the struggle has been accused of soliciting and allegedly receiving a whooping sum of N26 Million to ensure that the chairmanship slot is micro-zoned to Abubor Nnewichi inorder to pave the way for the emergence of one of the contenders, Sir Emmanuel Chukwueloka who is from Abubor and is currently the President General of Nnewichi.
It was further alleged that the Chairmanship project which is said to be financed by the brother to the Nnewichi PG, Chief Emeka BB Chukwueloka, had been well planned from the onset and as part of the simulation, the other contenders from Ezeobuo Nnewichi, were said to have been merely accommodated in the agitation, to give teeth to the orchestration that it was the turn of Nnewichi.
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According to sources, six members of the Nnewichi Agamniru BOT were alleged to have received N2 million each to endorse the moves while two other BOT members were said to have declined the offer.
While the fight by the Nnewichi gladiators to claim the Chairmanship slot is far from being realized, the sudden notice of emergency meeting of Nnewichi Agamniru which had been fixed for Monday, has sent tongues wagging, that the said meeting was designed to ambush Ezeobuo Nnewichi with the aim of imposing a pre-determined micro-zoning decision in favour of Abubor.
In response to the development, Ezeobuo quickly convened an emergency meeting last Saturday to take a common position on the matter. At the meeting, tempers flew very high as many expressed displeasure at the alleged role of Obidiugwu in what they termed ‘the unfolding shenanigan’.
Speaking with one of the attendees who introduced himself as a prominent stakeholder from Nnewichi, he said, “I have never felt this betrayed in my life. When we started this campaign, we were under the impression that Nnewichi was about to be shortchanged which from present indications, seems to be a ruse. So we had an understanding that when we succeed, we would sit down and look at candidacy issues dispassionately before deciding on the next line of action. To think that major decisions have been influenced behind us by people we trusted as leaders, feel like stabs in the back”, he concluded.
However, one of the contenders who pleaded anonymity said that he was not surprised at the turn of events as according to him, ‘history is repeating itself’. “I had my reservations all the while. Recall that in the just concluded governorship election in Anambra State, we witnessed a situation where Obidiugwu endorsed the YPP candidate, Sir Paul Chukwuma and was said to have collected cash and a Highlander SUV, campaigned for APC candidate and turned around to also endorse Soludo on camera with 24 hours to the election, when he was said to have realized that his conduct could affect his prospects of installing the next LG Chairman, if Soludo wins. But notwithstanding, he went ahead to work for APC candidate on the election proper. Can a Leopard change its spots overnight”, he queried.
While tension continues to escalate ahead of the Monday, January 26th, 2026 meeting, all efforts to reach the Obi of Nnewichi, Chief George Onyekaba, the PG of Nnewichi, Sir Emmanuel Chukwueloka and Chief Emeka BB Chukwueloka for comments, proved abortive.
