Ndiowu Elects Chief Chibuzor Okeke-Ifi As New Igwe After 11 Years
By Ukpa Ewa
The Ndiowu community in Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State has elected Chief Ben Chibuzor Okeke-Ifi as its new traditional ruler, ending eleven years without an Igwe.
Chief Okeke-Ifi emerged winner of the Igweship election held on January 12, 2026, at the Central School Field, Ndiowu, after polling 506 votes. His closest rivals, Chief Onyeka Ekwueme, Mr Ogochukwu Nwankwo and Mr Onyeka Kanu, scored two votes each, while Chief Obuneme Okeke recorded no vote.
The Chairman of the Electoral Committee and Councillor of Ndiowu Ward, Hon. Williams Omenuko, who announced the result, said a total of 512 votes were cast, with 18 declared invalid.
In his acceptance speech, the Igwe elect, Chief Chibuzor Okeke-Ifi, said he was committed to uniting the community and promoting inclusive development.
He disclosed that he is a small business owner in the United States, where he operates a company with over 90 employees, adding that he has been semi-retired for over four years.
He said his leadership would be anchored on unity, learning and service, noting that his administration would ensure that all segments of the community are carried along.
“The division in Ndiowu ends today. I am here to unite the people and ensure that everyone’s opinion counts,” he said.
Chief Okeke-Ifi pledged to prioritise education by increasing the number of community scholarships to 100, stressing that no child from a poor background should be denied university education due to financial constraints.
He added that his vision is to lay a strong foundation that would transform Ndiowu within the next ten years.
He thanked God for his emergence, affirming that despite challenges faced during the process, the outcome reflected the will of the people.
Earlier in his remarks, the Chairman of Orumba North Local Government Area, Hon. Casmir Nwafor, while addressing journalists, said the election was conducted to resolve the prolonged absence of a traditional ruler in Ndiowu.
He described the exercise as relatively peaceful and advised aggrieved persons to channel their complaints through appropriate government agencies.
Reacting to the outcome, Professor Ogonnah Nwangene of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Igbariam, described the election as a turning point in the history of Ndiowu, expressing joy that the community now has a traditional ruler.
Former Deputy Majority Leader of the Anambra State House of Assembly and Past Chairman of Orumba North Local Government Area, Chief Emeka Aforka, also described the election as historic, stating that Ndiowu people turned out to participate in the process.
Similarly, the President of Ndiowu North America, Chief Fred Aforka, hailed the exercise as a reflection of the people’s will, noting that many indigenes in the diaspora returned home to take part in the election.
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