Governor of Anambra State, Prof Chukwuma Soludo has been urged to intervene in leadership crisis rocking Nawfia Community in Njikoka Local Government Area of the state.
The community has been torn into two, with separate leadership, following alleged refusal by the relevant government officials to issue certificate to Mr Ifeanyichukwu Nkemka, who is deemed to be the authentic President General of the town.
Nkemka emerged as the President General of Nawfia Progressive Union, NPU, in an election in which all the villages in the area participated, but a faction of the union, allegedly supported by a top government official from the community organized another one, thereby heightening tension in the community.
But in a press briefing on Thursday, Nkemka told journalists that that the crisis was gradually growing into a violent one, and urged the governor to intervene.
He said: “We are calling on our amiable governor to please intervene and stop what some people in his government are doing in our community because they have interest in their friends becoming President General, against the wish of the people.
“We tried making government to recognize us after a court judgment which pronounced that we are the authentic leaders of Nawfia, but they have blocked us from being recognized.
“I went to the Attorney General and she told me that because the other party had filed an appeal against an earlier judgment on the matter, she would not advise the Governor or the Commissioner in charge of Chieftaincy Affairs to recognize me.
“I made the Attorney General to understand that mere filing of an appeal does not mean stay of execution. I had to write her officially again and in the letter, I reminded her of authorities supporting our case which states that if a judgement is entered, the appellant must obey the original judgement.”
The community leader lamented that as a result of this misunderstanding, the community has not been represented in various meetings where the development plans for communities in Anambra State are made.
The PG said it was regrettable that following the illegal attempt to conduct another election on July 19, 2025 outside his own, the community approached the court and a motion on notice for interlocutory injunction to restrain the action, was obtained, but government officials working for the faction refused to honour it.
