Mpam autonomous community petitions LG Chair to Gov Uzodinma
…Vows to resist move to impose a PG they didn’t elect .LG boss calls duly elected PG, Anthony Odom impostor, unrecognised by LGA
Maureen Aguta
The harmony and peaceful coexistence the Mpam Autonomous Community of Ahiazu Mbaise Local Government Area (LGA), is known for, from time immemorial could soon be ruptured if the Executive Governor of Imo State, HE Senator Hope Uzodinma fails to nip in the bud the looming crisis in the community occasioned by alleged move by the Chairman of Ahiazu Mbaise LGA, Mr Larry Chikwe to impose as President General on the community who did not participate the December 26th, 2024 election of the new executives of Mpam Progressive Union, the umbrella union of Mpam Ancient Kingdom.
Advocacy Time reports that the election which was the highpoint of the December 26th, 2024 Statutory Meeting, held at Mpam Civic Center at Eke-Mpam, the traditional headquarters of the community, produced Hon Anthony Ikechukwu Odom as the President General (PG); among other executives to run the affairs of the community for the next three years.
In an ‘Open Letter’ addressed to the Governor of the state and which was signed by the presidents of all the clans in Mpam, President of Mpam Progressive Union, Lagos branch, Chairman of Mpam Progressive Union, Gabon branch and other leaders of the community, the community described the situation as besiegement, calling for the governor’s urgent intervention to ensure the LG chairman stops the act which they described as illegal and completely outside his authority.
They alleged that the said Chief Chikwe, on April 2, 2025, issued a warning letter to Hon. Anthony Ikechukwu Odom, the duly elected PG of Mpam Autonomous Community, accusing him of impersonation and further saying that he was not the one presented to him as the PG of Mpam and therefore not recognised by the LGA.
But the Legal Adviser of MPU, Barr Augustine Chinaka told Advocacy Times that presentation of PG to the LG chairman is not a requirement for choosing the PG in Mpam Ancient Kingdom, saying selection of the executives of the union is purely an internal affairs of the union.
Meanwhile, the presidents of the clans in Mpam and other leaders of the community in their letter to the governor said that the widely circulated action of the LG chairman against their duly elected PG has not only caused deep concern among Ndi Mpam but also threatens to undermine peace and order of our community.
The open letter to the governor with the subject: Urgent Appeal To Call Chief Larry Obinna Chikwe, The Chairman Of Ahiazu Mbaise LGA To Order Over Unconstitutional Interference In The Affairs Of Mpam Autonomous Community, was dated April 5, 2025 and was copied to the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Com. Dr. Eliase Emedom; Commissioner for Special Duties, State House of Assembly Committee on LG & Chieftaincy Affairs; Hon Kingsley Nnabueze Okadike, Hon. Councilor for Mpam Ward; Hon. Anthony Odom, President General, Mpam Progressive Union; Traditional Rulers Council, Ahiazu Mbaise; DSS Office, Ahiazu Mbaise, and the Imo Command Police Commissioner.
The community leaders said that they wrote the letter on behalf all the indigenes of the community, calling on the governor to take a drastic action over the alleged “unconstitutional act and overreach of power by the Executive Chairman of Ahiazu Mbaise Local Government Area, Hon. Chief Amb. Larry Obinna Chikwe. On April 2, 2025.”
The letter which was sighted by Advocacy Times, reads in part: “The emergence of Hon. Anthony Ikechukwu Odom followed a well-structured, transparent and constitutionally guided process enshrined in the Mpam Progressive Union Constitution. The process began with the zoning of the position of PG to Umuegwu village by a general assembly resolution held on August 16, 2024 and the subsequent emergence of Hon Anthony Odom from Umuegwu as the PG of Mpam Autonomous community.
“This process was affirmed by the entire Mpam general assembly on 26th December 2024 at Eke Mpam, in the presence of the Ahiazu LGA Executive Chairman, the councilor representing Mpam Ward, the APC state officer, Barr. Tony Odirichukwu, DSS, and other security agencies, as well as members of the press.
“During that statutory general assembly meeting, an open election was conducted using Option A4, following Chief Frank Ogoke’s refusal to accept the outcome of a preliminary process carried out at the Umuegwu level. This election was conducted by an electoral committee established in accordance with the constitution of Mpam Progressive Union, which mandated that the outgoing president, the Eze, and the Abroadian Council each nominate one of the three electoral committee members. The outgoing president general nominated Hon. Ephraim Odom, the Abroadian Council nominated Barr. Augustine Chilaka while the Eze nominated Barr. Tony Odirichukwu. Tony Odirichukwu was appointed chairman of the committee, while Barr. Chilaka and Hon. Odom were secretary and member, respectively.”
Advocacy Times learnt that the election was conducted in the open ground of Mpam Civic Centre, where the candidates who indicated interest and stood for election were Hon. Anthony Odom, who won with 140 votes, against Comrade Anthony Ogu, who received 36 votes. Chief Frank Ogoke walked away during the balloting at the election ground and did not secure any vote.
It was disclosed that Hon. Anthony Odom and other newly elected MPU executives were sworn into office immediately by HRH Eze LC Ogbata, Eze Mpam, in accordance with the provisions of the Mpam Progressive Union Constitution.
“To our greatest shock, the Executive Chairman, who witnessed the statutory election and peaceful transition, has now issued a letter falsely claiming that Chief Frank Ogoke is the “government-recognised” PG of Mpam, a man who never stood for election nor was affirmed by any segment of Ndi Mpam.
“This action is not only unconstitutional but also dangerous. The constitution of the Mpam Progressive Union does not provide for the presentation of a PG to the LGA Chairman. It is the General Assembly of Mpam, as the supreme organ, that decides on its leadership. The chairman’s interference is a violation of the autonomy and collective will of the people,” the Mpam leaders further said in the letter.
The described the action of the LG Chairman as reckless and a big threat to peace and order in the community. “Allowing one man to override the voice of an entire autonomous community sets a dangerous precedent for local governance in our state and is already sparking social unrest within MPAM, which is known for its harmony and peaceful coexistence.
We reaffirm our full loyalty to your government and trust in your commitment to justice, fairness, and the rule of law. May God continue to bless your leadership and protect the peace and unity of Imo State.
Advocacy Time can authoritatively report that while the leaders of Mpam are determined to ensure peace reigns in the community, some faceless elements started circulating a letter of a ‘Statutory Meeting’ at Mpam Civic Center on April 19th to be chaired by Chief Ogoko; the same day the PG, Hon Anthony announced the community’s Easter Statutory Meeting will hold at the Civic Center.
