Concerned stakeholders and members of the Ogbunike Elders Consultative Forum have debunked the news making the rounds that a Court in Otuocha has stopped the processes involved in the selection/election of a new Igwe Ogbunike.

In a statement on Saturday 12th April, 2025, signed by Chief David Onyeme a.k.a Emelie Ogbunike the Forum cleared the air highlighting the true position on the matter.

Ogbunike Elders Consultative Forum stated, "Our attention has been drawn to news making the rounds that a Court situated in Otuocha has stopped the processes set in motion for the selection/election of the new Igwe Ogbunike".

"We must state clearly at this point that it was not the situation on the matter in view.

It must be noted that the plaintiffs approached the Court praying for an interlocutory injuction to stop the processes. But the fact is that the Court has not granted their prayers."

"We need to set the matter straight. The fact is that the Court served writ of summons to the defendants. There is no Court order restraining OPU and Ndichie Ogbunike from continuing with the processes they have outlined for selecting or electing a new Igwe Ogbunike."

"We ask Ndi Ogbunike not to be distracted by the news as it was not the position on the matter. We warn hired agents and enemies of the peaceful process to desist from disseminating unsubstantiated pieces of information or outright falsehood as the Forum will not sit back and watch them orchestrate anything that will cause breach of public peace or distract the process of selecting or electing our new Igwe. Let me inform, at this point, that the state government has approved the date 21st April 2025 as the official date set aside for the election of the new Igwe Ogbunike"