John Azuta-Mbata, a former senator representing Rivers East, has been elected as the President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the apex Igbo socio-cultural organization.
Azuta-Mbata’s election was held on Friday during a meeting of Ohanaeze Ndigbo in Enugu State. He succeeds Fidelis Chukwu, who had been serving as interim president-general following the death of Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu in July 2024.
The presidency of Ohanaeze Ndigbo rotates among the southeastern states and Rivers State. This term marks Rivers State’s turn to lead the organization.
Born in January 1960, Azuta-Mbata holds a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Ibadan. During his tenure in the Nigerian Senate from 1999 to 2007, he served on various committees, including defence, works and housing, women affairs, finance and appropriation, and information.
His leadership in Ohanaeze Ndigbo will focus on uniting the Igbo people and advancing the organization’s socio-political and cultural goals.
Azuta-Mbata’s election comes after a series of transitions in the leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo. Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, who assumed the presidency after the death of George Obiozor in 2022, passed away in July 2024. Iwuanyanwu’s term was briefly completed by Fidelis Chukwu, an indigene of Imo State, before Azuta-Mbata’s election.
Azuta-Mbata’s career has not been without controversy. In 2005, he and two other lawmakers were arraigned by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) over allegations of involvement in an N55 million budget bribe scam. The case lingered until 2019, when a high court in Abuja discharged the charges, citing a lack of witnesses to prosecute the case.
