Senator John Azuta-Mbata has been elected as the President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide.
Azuta-Mbata, a former Senator representing Rivers East at the National Assembly, was elected at the stakeholders meeting of the Igbo Socio-Cultural organisation at the old government lodge Enugu, the Enugu State capital on Friday.
Five governors of the South-East, leaders of thoughts, political stakeholders from the Igbo extraction were all present at the election.
The election makes Azuta-Mbata the 13th President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, succeeding Fidelis Chukwu, who completed the tenure of Imo State.
Chukwu was named the leader of the group during the Ime-Obi meeting held in Enugu in December. His appointment followed the death of Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu who took over after the death of George Obiozor in 2023.
Fidelis Chukwuโs completion of Imo Stateโs tenure to lead the pan-Igbo group opened the door for Rivers State which has now produced Azuta-Mbata to lead Ohanaeze for the next four years.
Azuta-Mbata, who was immediately sworn in after the election, assured the Igbo people of his commitment to an all-inclusive leadership that will foster unity and growth among all Igbos.
The chairman of the South-East Governorsโ Forum, Governor Hope Uzodimma, also assured the Ohanaeze Ndigbo that the South-East governors will support the leadership for a fruitful regional growth and economic integration.
Azuta-Mbata, who was born in January 1960, earned a Masters in Public Administration from the University of Ibadan.At the start of the Nigerian Fourth Republic in 1999, Azuta-Mbata was elected Senator for the Rivers East constituency of Rivers State. He ran on the platform of the Peopleโs Democratic Party (PDP). He was re-elected in 2023 and served in the Senate until 2007. (Channels)