SENATOR John Azuta-Mbata has officially taken office as the President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide.
Azuta-Mbata was elected during a stakeholders meeting at the old government lodge in Enugu, the capital of Enugu State, with five governors from the South-East and various political and thought leaders present.
This election marks Azuta-Mbata as the 13th President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, succeeding Fidelis Chukwu, who completed the tenure for Imo State.
Chukwu was appointed during the Ime-Obi meeting in Enugu in December, following the death of Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, who had taken over after George Obiozor’s passing in 2023.
Fidelis Chukwu’s completion of the Imo State tenure paved the way for Rivers State to produce Azuta-Mbata as the new leader of Ohanaeze for the next four years.
Azuta-Mbata, who was sworn in immediately after the election, promised to lead with an inclusive approach that promotes unity and growth among the Igbo people.
Governor Hope Uzodimma, chairman of the South-East Governors’ Forum, assured Ohanaeze Ndigbo of the governors’ support for effective regional development and economic integration.
Born in January 1960, Azuta-Mbata holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of Ibadan. He was first elected as Senator for the Rivers East constituency in 1999 under the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and was re-elected in 2023, serving in the Senate until 2007.