By Pascal Ibe
Introduction
The political season towards next year’s election is on, and grassroots campaigns and mobilisation by politicians continue to take the stage.
Shifting from consulting and meeting with political heavyweights and the most famous people in society for endorsement, politicians now turn their attention to meeting with traditional rulers and community leaders to gain the support of the people.
For the presidential candidates of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi and the African Democratic Congress, Atiku Abubakar, the cross-country visits ahead of the campaign have since commenced, but it is yet to be seen on the side of President Bola Tinubu of the ruling All Progressives Congress, who is seeking a re-election in 2027.
Claim
A few days ago, supporters of Obi and other blogs posted an image of the NDC presidential candidate and a traditional ruler in Enugu, alongside a claim that the monarch was suspended because he hosted Obi in his palace recently.
A blog on the X platform, @IgboHistoFacts (Igbo History & Facts) on 25 September, posted (archived here) the image from the visit of Obi to the monarch and claimed that “BREAKING: Peter Mbah suspends Ibagwa Opi traditional ruler for hosting and praying for Peter Obi”
Peter Mbata is the Governor of Enugu State.
A similar post to the above was also made on X here.
Going through the comments under the two posts, FACTWATCH Nigeria observed that many people who commented on the post, believed the claim and criticised the Enugu State Government for suspending the traditional ruler for “exercising his rights.”
Verification
First, we searched Google to see if the traditional ruler was truly suspended, and the results showed that he was indeed suspended by the Enugu government.
However, in a letter dated September 24, 2026, with reference number MCM/CM/685/14, signed by the Honourable Commissioner, Ministry of Chieftaincy Affairs, Dr. Charles O. C. Egumgbe. It disclosed that the suspension of the monarch was over alleged flagrant violations of the Traditional Rulers Law, including failure to constitute a cabinet, running the community single-handedly, and intimidating and arresting his subjects.
In the letter, the government cited “flagrant violation of extant provisions of the Traditional Rulers Law Cap 151, Revised Laws of Enugu State, 2004.”
“Failure to subscribe to the community’s Code of Conduct and further failure to put in place a cabinet to help you run the affairs of Ibagwa Opi Autonomous Community since its creation, 4 (four) years ago.
The government also accused the monarch of “failure to encourage the setting up of Town Union Executive thereby running Ibagwa Opi Autonomous Community single-handedly,” and “persistent conduct inconsistent with section 15 (d), (e), (f), (g), (h), (i), (j) and (n) of the Traditional Rulers Law, Enugu State.”
Speaking with SaharaReporters in a phone interview, Egumgbe said the suspension had nothing to do with Peter Obi, accusing social media influencers of politicising a straightforward administrative action.
News websites reported the story here and here.
A social media influencer, Sen Chijinkem Ugwuanyi, who posted about Obi’s visit to the traditional ruler on 6 September, was also one of the people who made the claim that the monarch was suspended because of the NDC presidential candidate’s visit.
The NDC’s governorship candidate in Enugu State, Chinyeaka Ohaa, who also made the claim in a statement on 26 September, could not provide any strong evidence to substantiate his claim.
Verdict
The monarch was indeed suspended by the Enugu State Government ; however, letters and subsequent reactions from the commissioner indicated that he was suspended for different reasons and NOT because Obi visited him.
Therefore, the claim is FALSE.
