Tension has continued to escalate in Uzuaku Community of Ukwa West Local Government Area of Abia State following attempts by some persons in the community to replace the Community Development Committee (CDC) Chairman, Henry Udozu Nwankwo, whose corpse still lies in the mortuary after his death few months ago.
Henry Udozu Nwankwo reportedly died after a brief illness while serving the Uzuaku community on December 5, 2025.
His death has sparked controversy over succession plans, with divisions emerging among community stakeholders regarding the appropriate time and process to appoint a new Chairman.
A stakeholder of the community, who is a relation of the deceased, Mr. Owuogba Okechukwu Owuogba, alleged that the elders of the community are complicit in the matter considering that they have remained silent while some persons had taken it upon themselves to destabilise the community by insisting on replacing the deceased Chairman, without making efforts to give the late Chairman a befitting burial first before proceeding with the election of a new Chairman.
He called on the Executive Chairman of Ukwa West Local Government Council l, and other relevant authorities to wade into the matter in the interest of peace and justice.
Sources close to Newsportal revealed that on February 28, 2026, a bye election was planned to be held at the community’s town Hall, but was put on hold following the intervention of the Department of State Services, which reportedly received a petition regarding the election. While some stakeholders in the community maintain that there is a constitution that should guide the affairs of the community, some others contend that there is no subsisting constitution, and hence the community is at liberty to decide the necessary steps to take in getting a new Chairman.
Some concerned leaders of the community that spoke with Newsportal hold the view that the bye election should not hold until the deceased Chairman is buried, adding that it would be proper for the Vice Chairman to hold forth pending the burial of the late Chairman.
Observers warn that the leadership tussle in Uzuaku community could escalate further if not carefully managed.
