Senator John Azuta-Mbata Elected As Ohanaeze Ndigbo President-General

Former senator, John Azuta-Mbata has been elected as the new president-general of Ohanaeze Ndigbo.

John Azuta-Mbata, who served as the senator for Rivers East from 1999 to 2007, was elected during a meeting of the Igbo socio-cultural group in Enugu on Friday, January 10, 2025.

The organization also voted in other new officials to lead for the next four years.

Azuta-Mbata takes over from Fidelis Chukwu, who served as president-general on an interim basis after the death of Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu in July 2024.

Iwuanyanwu had taken on the role after the death of George Obiozor in 2022. Both Iwuanyanwu and Obiozor were from Imo State.

The leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo rotates between the states in the southeast and Rivers State, with Rivers currently holding the position.

Who is John Azuta-Mbata?

Born in January 1960, the former senator holds a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Ibadan.

During his time in the Senate, he served on various committees, including defense, works and housing, women’s affairs, finance and appropriation, and information.

In 2005, Azuta-Mbata was one of three lawmakers accused in a scandal involving a N55 million budget bribe, investigated by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

The case was dismissed in 2019, 14 years later, as there were no witnesses to support the charges, according to S.E. Aladetoyinbo, the presiding judge in the case.

John Azuta-Mbata’s election comes following the death of Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, former President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, who died in July 2024.