Discontent is growing in the Ingle Edumoga area of Okpokwu Local Government, Benue State, after locals challenged the process of selecting a new District Head. Community members, including elders and youth representatives, have formally requested Governor Hyacinth Iormem Alia to intervene and block a perceived breach of their traditional zoning system.
The petition alleges that the monarch and chairman of the Okpokwu Council of Chiefs, Chief James Okefe, is trying to bypass the established rotational agreement. Residents claim this plan would install a candidate from a ward that has already held the position, ignoring the rotation sequence meant to ensure fairness. The document was signed by Gabriel Ugboyi Ogwuchea, Elizabeth Ochada, and Engr Joseph Otobo.
According to the petitioners, a previous gathering of ward heads at the palace of Chief Ojo Emmanuel Ochechema confirmed that it is Ingle Edumoga’s turn to lead. They further accused certain traditional leaders of accepting bribes to influence the selection, suggesting the process has been tainted by corruption. The community fears that ignoring these long-standing rules could lead to regional instability.
The group is urging Governor Alia to halt any ongoing recognition process for a candidate outside their ward. They are calling for an independent inquiry into the rotation history of the Edumoga Chiefdom and an insistence that the traditional council honors the current succession order to maintain local peace.
