The acting President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo in Bayelsa State, Chief Chinedu Arthur-Ugwa, has urged organisers of a planned Igbo Day celebration in Yenagoa to cancel the event, warning that it could trigger violence and a breach of public peace amid the ongoing leadership crisis in the organisation.
In a statement made available to The Guardian, Arthur-Ugwa appealed to aggrieved parties in the leadership dispute to suspend all activities until the cases before the court are concluded.
The warning comes as the Bayelsa State High Court, sitting in Yenagoa, adjourned until November 12, 2026, for a hearing on a preliminary objection in the leadership dispute between Frank Odunukwe and Arthur-Ugwa over the presidency of Ohanaeze Ndigbo in the state.
The case, which came up for hearing on Friday, was adjourned after counsel to the defendant, Nathaniel Lokosin, informed the court that the relevant processes were served on his client on Wednesday, October 21, leaving the defence with insufficient time to respond.
Expressing concern over plans to hold the celebration in the state, Arthur-Ugwa said the event could heighten tensions if it did not receive the necessary approval from the national leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide.
He said he had also notified the Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, the state Commissioner of Police and other relevant security agencies about the situation.
While expressing support for a peaceful resolution of the leadership crisis, the acting president said he would submit a formal petition to the police commissioner concerning the proposed celebration.
According to him, Igbo Day was celebrated in Umuahia on September 29, 2026, and any subsequent celebration should be approved by the global secretariat led by Senator John Azuta Mbata.
He said adherence to the requirement was necessary to avert a possible clash and maintain public peace in the state.
“Igbo must be united before celebration. No peace and unity, no celebration,” Arthur-Ugwa stated.