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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Elections & Politics

Residents seek peace as community elects new monarch

From The Punch · () English

Summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Documents & data In the courts
  • Nsugbe community leaders appealed for peace as residents elected a new traditional ruler under a state-appointed caretaker committee.
  • The committee replaced a delegate-based vote with an all-inclusive process for eligible voters from Ivite village.
  • Court documents showed that a judge had issued an order restraining any election or selection of an Nsugbe monarch until a substantive case is decided.

Nsugbe’s attempt to choose a new traditional ruler is unfolding amid competing claims over the legality of the process and an existing court order.

Victor Attah, chairman of the caretaker committee appointed by the Anambra State Government, appealed for peace as the community proceeded with the election. The government suspended the Nsugbe Town Union on August 24, 2026, after several allegations and created the committee to restore peace and conduct a new election.

The leadership of Nsugbe community in Anambra East Local Government Area of Anambra State, is appealing to Senator Tony Nwoye, to allow peace prevail as the community proceeds with the election of its traditional ruler.

— Victor AttahThe caretaker committee chairman appealed for calm during the monarch election.

Attah said the dispute began after the traditional stool was zoned to Ivite village. In response to protests led by prominent politicians, the committee scrapped the delegate system and allowed every eligible person from Ivite to vote. He appealed to Senator Tony Nwoye to let the process proceed peacefully.

“The leadership of Nsugbe community in Anambra East Local Government Area of Anambra State, is appealing to Senator Tony Nwoye, to allow peace prevail as the community proceeds with the election of its traditional ruler,” Attah said.

The Attorney General has no hand whatsoever in the election process and did not even come to the venue. The allegations against the government and the Attorney General are being made by those interested only in blackmail.

— Victor AttahAttah denied allegations that the state attorney-general influenced the election arrangements.

He denied that Anambra Attorney-General Tobechukwu Nweke had influenced the arrangements, saying the commissioner had not visited the venue. Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters Commissioner Vin Ezeaka said the state sent observers to monitor the election.

However, documents from the Awka Judicial Division showed that Justice Jude Obiora issued a preservative order on August 5, 2026, restraining any election or selection of an Igwe for Nsugbe until the substantive case is resolved. The order related to Motion No. OT/1192m/2026 and Suit No. OT/237/2026.

We use this medium to beg all parties to allow peace to reign in Nsugbe so that the people can exercise their right to choose their traditional ruler without further rancor.

— Victor AttahThe caretaker committee chairman urged all sides to avoid further conflict.
About this summary

Originally published by The Punch. Summarized and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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