Ebonyi Commissioner Issues Political Ultimatum to Traditional Rulers: Campaign for APC or Lose Staff of Office [VIDEO]

 

HEADLINE OPTION 1:
Ebonyi Commissioner Issues Political Ultimatum to Traditional Ruler: Campaign for APC or Lose Staff of Office

HEADLINE OPTION 2:
Chieftaincy or Politics? Ebonyi Commissioner Ties Traditional Ruler’s Office to APC Loyalty

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A disturbing interaction has emerged from Ebonyi State, where the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Uchenna Igwe, was caught on tape issuing veiled threats to a newly elected traditional ruler, Clement Nweke Nwoga, of the Amana community. The commissioner’s message was unambiguous: throw your full political weight behind the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) or risk losing the chieftaincy you’ve just won.

The short clip, reportedly recorded during a post-election meeting at the commissioner’s office, captures Igwe’s pointed directive to Nwoga. Though the exact date of the conversation remains uncertain, the message delivered was unmistakable. According to the commissioner, the staff of office—a ceremonial symbol that formalizes a traditional ruler’s authority—would be granted only if Nwoga proves his loyalty to the APC by mobilizing political support at the grassroots level.

“We are one and we are APC… Go and make sure that in your community, APC is what you are campaigning for,” Igwe was heard saying in the three-minute recording. “That is why the governor will give you the staff of office. But if you fail to do the right things, he will collect it from you through this office.”

This statement strikes at the heart of traditional governance, raising alarm over the politicization of cultural institutions. Nwoga, who was elected in March with 560 votes against Zachaeus Nwennewor’s three, only recently ended a near-decade-long leadership vacuum in Amana, a community that had remained without a recognized ruler since 2014.

Although the commissioner cloaked his comments in the language of administrative advice and reconciliation, the underlying pressure to support the APC was unmistakable. He advised the traditional leader to engage everyone in the community—supporters, opponents, and political appointees alike—yet consistently returned to the central theme of party allegiance.

“Take the governor, his administration and policies seriously, take the local government chairman seriously, take your coordinator seriously… take everybody in Amana Community seriously,” Igwe stressed, presenting unity as both a community ideal and a political mandate.

Interestingly, the commissioner also encouraged inclusive governance at the grassroots, advising the traditional ruler to incorporate even his former rivals into his cabinet. “The people who contested against you, put them in your cabinet,” he said. “You reconcile by bringing both parties together.”

While the call for unity and reconciliation could be seen as fostering peace, critics have pointed out the transactional tone underlying the commissioner’s words. The promise of formal recognition through a staff of office is clearly tied to Nwoga’s political usefulness, rather than his traditional legitimacy or the needs of his people.

Observers have also noted that the commissioner himself has been under scrutiny. In December, he was suspended by Governor Francis Nwifuru over allegations of misconduct and failure to address grievances regarding unpaid gratuities to local government employees. Although he was later reinstated, the controversy still hangs over his office.

This latest episode further deepens concerns about the independence of traditional institutions in Ebonyi State. For years, traditional rulers across Nigeria have walked a delicate line between their cultural roles and the influence of political elites. However, direct threats to withdraw chieftaincy recognition based on party loyalty risk eroding the credibility of these community leaders.

Clement Nweke Nwoga now finds himself navigating a complex and potentially volatile landscape. As a newly elected monarch, his first months in office are already being shaped not by communal harmony or cultural stewardship, but by the expectations of political loyalty.

Local analysts warn that such political entanglements could compromise the ruler’s ability to serve his people impartially. “A traditional ruler should be above partisan politics,” one civic leader in Ebonyi stated. “When you tie his staff of office to a political party, you’re essentially asking him to stop being a community leader and start acting as a campaign manager.”

Whether or not Nwoga chooses to comply with the commissioner’s directive, the damage may already be done. The tape has reignited debates about the separation of traditional authority from political power, and whether the government in Ebonyi is using symbolic tools of leadership as instruments of coercion.

With the clip now circulating and drawing criticism from civil society groups and concerned citizens, pressure is mounting on the Ebonyi State Government to clarify its position and protect the independence of traditional institutions. For many, this incident serves as a chilling reminder of how power can be wielded—not just through legislation or force, but by leveraging culture itself.