Apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, yesterday, disclaimed reports that it had invited presidential candidates of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi; Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, as special guests to the 2022 Igbo Day celebrations.

In a statement, the group’s National Publicity Secretary, Dr. Alex Ogbonnia, described this report as the height of treachery, which should not be associated with it.

The report, which Ohanaeze characterised as the handiwork of mischief-makers, had stated that the three presidential candidates would be adorned with special titles and special prayers would be offered for them.

Ohanaeze said: “The foregoing fraudulent activities by few mischievous Igbo dissidents have been condemned by eminent Igbo stakeholders. The worst recurrence of such a report is the satanic enticement with which some loose academics are attracted to the impostors.

“The Ohanaeze, led by Prof. George Obiozor, calls on the public to ignore the pretenders, who misrepresent the hallowed name Ohanaeze for narrow, selfish and stomach infrastructure.”

Obiozor reminded the general public that Ohanaeze does not engage in frivolities and childish displays on serious issues of national interests.

“The three presidential candidates are, hereby, advised to keep a safe distance from the social climbers, tricksters, shameless impostors and mischief-makers,” he said.

“Unfortunately, the characters involved in the fake Igbo day are those who are still fascinated by the unfortunate, infamous, ignoble and odious roles they played in the offices they held in the apex Igbo organisation for over 10 years.

MEANWHILE, Ohanaeze has recognised and endorsed the award and chieftaincy title given to the Bayelsa State Commissioner of Education, Gentle Emelah, by the state branch of the organisation.

A faction of the Bayelsa Branch of Ohanaeze, led by Johnson Onuma, had, last week, suspended and expelled the acting President of organisation in the state, Remigius Ekwen, and two others.

Onuma announced the expulsion of the three members from the community for alleged conferment of the chieftaincy title, ‘Enyi Ndigbo,’ on Emelah.

Those expelled are the Special Assistant on Special Duties to Governor Douye Diri, Chinedu Arthur-Ugwa, Remigius Ekwem and Patrick Ugwu.

The group also declared the chieftaincy title awarded to Emelah as a nullity and should not be recognised, because the conferment violated the process outlined in the Igbo community’s constitution.