The apex Igbo socio-cultural and political organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, has declared that eligible Igbo individual is free to contest the 2027 presidential election.
The declaration is aimed at countering a faction of the group which announced that no Igbo candidate would contest the 2027 presidential election against incumbent President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
In a statement issued late Wednesday and personally signed by Senator John Azuta Mbata, President General of Ohanaeze, the group stressed that no Igbo person is barred from exercising their political rights.
The group called on Igbos to actively participate in the political process through lawful engagement in the parties of their choice.
“Any Igbo person who belongs to a political party and wants to contest any elections whatsoever in 2027 is free to do so,” the statement noted.
“Any publication to the contrary is fake news, did not originate from Ohanaeze Ndigbo, and should be discountenanced by the entirety of Ndigbo.
“Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide is a socio-cultural organization of Ndigbo and not a political party. As such, Ohanaeze is not in a position to say, dictate or even advise on who should and shouldn’t contest elections in Nigeria in 2027 or at any time for that matter.
“Ndigbo are advised to continue their lawful political activities in the various political parties of their choice and membership,” it added.
