Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, the apex socio-cultural organization representing the Igbo people, has clarified that any Igbo individual is eligible to run for the presidency in the 2027 general elections.
Senator Azuta Mbata, President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, made the declaration on Wednesday night in an official statement he personally signed. He dismissed recent media reports claiming that the organization had imposed a ban on Igbo participation in the upcoming presidential race as false and baseless.
The statement emphasized, “Any Igbo person who belongs to a political party and wants to contest any elections whatsoever in 2027 is free to do so. Any publications to the contrary are fake news, did not originate from Ohanaeze Ndigbo, and should be disregarded by the entire Ndigbo community.”
Senator Mbata further explained that Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide is strictly a socio-cultural body and not a political party. Therefore, it does not have the authority to dictate or advise on electoral candidates, now or in the future.
The organization calls on all Igbo people to continue engaging actively and lawfully in political processes within their chosen parties ahead of the 2027 elections.
