As Nigeria gears up for the 2027 elections, former Aviation Minister Osita Chidoka, has cautioned Igbo political gladiators against claiming to represent the collective will or issuing statements on behalf of Ndigbo.
This was as Chidoka emphasized that Ndigbo have never operated as a monolithic political bloc and lack a “central parliament” that determines a unified electoral position.
In a statement released on March 21, 2026, the former minister appealed to political actors to allow Ndigbo the “dignity of agency,” urging them to respect the people’s right to choose independently rather than assuming they can “deliver” the Igbo vote as a commodity.
According to him, Igbo voting patterns are shaped by a long history of resilience, displacement, and survival, and should not be questioned or dismissed as mere “political setbacks”.
“In this election season, I appeal to all Igbo political gladiators: Campaign freely; support whomever you wish, but leave Ndigbo as a collective out of your statements.
“Do not question our collective choices. From 1960 to date, Ndigbo have consistently voted in line with what we believe to be our interest.
“The Igbo people have never operated as a monolithic political bloc directed by any single voice or authority.
“We have no central parliament that determines a unified electoral position,” Chidoka explained.
He further noted that the political strength of Ndigbo “has always resided in the independence of thought and the agency of our people.”
“Our voting patterns reflect our understanding of our interests, shaped by history and lived experience. That history is not a light one. It carries the weight of displacement and adaptation; the scars of the transatlantic slave trade; the disruptions of colonial rule; the trauma of pogroms; the devastation of civil war; and the persistence required to navigate structural constraints in its aftermath. Yet, we endured. We overcame it. And more importantly, we rebuilt,” Chidoka said.
He charged Ndigbo to approach their collective identity with respect and responsibility, even in moments of political contestation.
“What may be described today as political setbacks must be situated within the broader historical arc of a people defined by resilience, enterprise, and renewal.
“Let us not, in the urgency of present contests, diminish that enduring story. I appeal to all: engage robustly in politics, but allow Ndigbo the dignity of agency.
“Respect our long arc of survival. Respect our right to choose. Respect the wisdom of our people,” he added.
Chidoka concluded his appeal with the proverb “Uche bụ akpa onye ọbụna; onye ọ bụla na-ebu nke ya,” which translates to “every individual carries their own judgment”.
