The apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohaneze Ndigbo, has announced plans to review its constitution to accommodate developments since its last amendment in 2003.

According to a statement by the spokesman, Dr. Alex Chidozie Ogbonnia, the National Executive Committee of Ohanaeze Ndigbo has invited memoranda from “all patriotic Igbo sons, daughters, all the Ohanaeze chapters, Ohanaeze Women Wing, Ohanaeze Youth Wing, Ohanaeze affiliates, traditional rulers, town unions, professional bodies, churches, Igbo Interest groups and other relevant organizations” to provide input into the review process.

Submissions are to be sent to the Secretary of the Ohanaeze Constitution Review Committee, Dr. Ezechi Chukwu, via WhatsApp number 0813-2087496 before December 31, 2023.

“It is the view of the NEC of Ohanaeze that the Constitution which was last amended in 2003 needs to accommodate various current developments which were not envisaged in 2003, exactly twenty years ago”, Ohanaeze Ndigbo leadership explained.

“To resolve the constitutional impasse, the Imeobi Ohanaeze had to set up a Constitutional Review Committee headed by Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu which produced the current constitution”.

“In other words, it is inconceivable to expect a constitution that was last reviewed twenty years ago to fulfil the expectations of the present realities,” the statement read.

The Ohanaeze Ndigbo leadership explained that the current constitution, which was last amended in 2003, was a product of a constitutional crisis that occurred in 2003. 

The crisis was resolved by establishing a Constitutional Review Committee headed by Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, which produced the current constitution.

While acknowledging the efforts of the Iwuanyanwu committee, the NEC noted that “there are still some discrepancies and unanticipated dynamics that were not contemplated in the last two decades.”

The NEC emphasized the importance of adapting the constitution to address contemporary challenges and ensure its relevance in the current landscape.