By Emeka Ozumba
It took the landmark judgement of Nigeria’s Supreme Court of July 2024, to affirm the financial and administrative autonomy of Local Governments in Nigeria. Since then the office of the Local Government Chairman has become very attractive and financially rewarding for those lucky to have ascended it.
In Anambra State the tenure is renewable every two years and the incumbents are supposed to vaccate the office by August 2026. But there is already an unhealthy scheming for occupation of the office. But communities in the twenty-one Local Government Areas of the state had in anticipation of unhealthy rivalries entered into agreements/conventions on zoning for aspirants to the office which has ensured peaceful co-existence, equity and political harmony among contending interests.
The Njikoka zoning arrangement, agreed upon by Umuowele and Umunri clans, stipulates that the chairmanship position alternates between the two. With Umunri’s turn approaching, incumbent Chairman of Njikọka Local Government Area, Barrister Chinedu Ọnọniba’s bid for a 3rd term threatens to disrupt this delicate balance.
The Zoning arrangement agreed and respected over the years by the concerned communities comprising Umuowele: Abba, Abagana, and Nimo on one hand; and Umunri made up of Enugwu-Ukwu, Enugwu-Agidi and Nawfia is on the verge of being torpedoed by the vaulting ambition of Barrister Ọnọniba who hails from Nimo of the Umuowele, clan. His decision to seek a 3rd-term in office regardless of having served 3 months previously as care-taker Chairman is the tinder box that will ignite avoidable fire in the Local Government Area.
Lest this piece is misconstrued, this is not a referendum on the performance of Barrister Ọnọniba as Chairman of Njikọka, it is not. Perhaps that is for another day. This is simply an effort at highlighting the danger an unbridled ambition will put Njikọka into. The peace and shared commitment of Umuowele and Umunri clans will not only take flight but it will bring mistrust.
Going by the zoning agreement, it is the turn of Umunri clan to submit the list of aspirants for the office of the chairmanship of Njikoka LGA without let or hindrance. Sadly, the attempt by aspirants from Umuowele to be on the list has created a furore that may rupture the peace and if not carefully managed, will negatively impact the fortunes of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Njikọka.
Interestingly, Ọnọniba, fully aware of the subsisting zoning arrangement, on Saturday February 7, 2026 announced to the surprise of stakeholders of the Local Government that he has obtained the form for screening and re-election. His argument for and audacity to stake another claim to the chairmanship of Njikoka LGA is hinged on the provision in the Party Guidelines on The Screening of “Mayoral” Aspirants for Local Government Elections to wit: All serving Mayors elected under APGA who have purchased forms for Expression of Interest are deemed qualified for the final stage of screening.” But this is without prejudice to the unequivocal stand of the Party that in communities where there are existing zoning arrangements, such should be respected.
As at the time of this write-up, it is reported that Ọnọniba’s non-disposition to abide by the tenets of zoning in Njikọka has influenced other aspirants from Umuowele to join the fray, thus further convoluting the space and stirring disputations over otherwise peaceful rotation.
From the foregoing, it appears Ọnọniba and his cohorts from Umuowele are bent on acting ignorant of the subsisting zoning arrangement. Accordingly, it behooves well-meaning Njikọka elders, men and women of goodwill to request Umuowele to drop their ambition so as to allow peace to reign. Those tacitly aiding and abetting the foisting of any aspirant from Umuowele are working against the spirit and letters of Njikọka zoning and should desist forthwith.
Njikọka stakeholders are scheduled to meet on Tuesday February 10, 2026 at Abagana to hopefully seek a resolution of this matter. Ordinarilly, compliance with the zoning arrangement and relinquishing the post to Umunri would be the honourable thing to do by Umuowele. However, where the dramatis personae refuse to yeild the stage, a number of questions would suffice:
– In the last dispensation, Umunri yielded the stage for Umuowele to submit the three names on the list before Ọnoniba emerged. With Ọnọniba obtaining form to contest alongside Umunri shows an obtuse understanding and betrayal of trust and zoning agreement.
– Asking whether Umuowele is not outrightly denying Umunri their turn or whether allowing Umunri and Umuowele to jostle for the office is not against equity, peace and fairness, is stating the obvious. Does Umuowele’s insistence on a second term, if for any reason it works, mean that Umunri will have two terms next time around?
There are many questions begging for answers but the above suffices for now. It is expected that reason will eventually prevail and Umunri will be allowed to take its turn in keeping with the zoning arrangement by submitting the three names for screening. Anything other than the clearly stated rules of engagement, may not bode well for peace and political harmony in Njikọka.
