The umbrella socio-cultural body of Idoma people known as Ochtoha K’Idoma has rejected the selection of Pastor John Elaigwu Odogbo as the new paramount traditional ruler for the Idoma kingdom.
Odogbo, a clergy of Deeper Life Christian denomination, had on December 30, 2021, emerged the Och’Idoma – elect after a keenly contested election in Otukpo following the recent hunting expedition embarked on by the Och’Idoma IV, Dr Elias Ikoyi Obekpa in October 2021.
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The new monarch was hours after his election on the same day presented to Governor Samuel Ortom by the selection committee headed by the supervising Commissioner of Information in the state, Ekpe Ogbu, who testified that the exercise held transparently.
Ogbu also on Sunday told our correspondent in Makurdi that if they (aspirants) had resolved on consensus, they wouldn’t have gone into voting as he noted that the state representatives, which he led for the exercise were only there to regulate the process.
But, the Ochtoha K’Idoma, at the weekend in a press statement signed by its President, AVM. Toni Adokwu, (Rtd.), alleged interference with the process, which led to the emergence of the new royal father, thereby referring to the exercise as a “charade”.
Responding to the allegations, Commissioner Ogbu said the group hadn’t been able to substantiate their claims as he stressed that some of their submissions were as good as what could be described as a “thrash”.
