Ebonyi State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Chief Stephen Uchenna Igwe.
The Ebonyi State Government has unveiled a certification process aimed at sanitizing town union leadership across the state and curbing the activities of impostors posing as town union presidents.
The development was disclosed in a statement issued by the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters on January 22, 2026.
The ministry expressed concern over the rising cases of impersonation by unscrupulous individuals who allegedly present themselves as presidents of autonomous communities to defraud unsuspecting members of the public.
The directive, signed by the Honourable Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Chief Stephen Uchenna Igwe, reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to restoring order, credibility, and accountability in grassroots governance.
According to the statement, the new policy mandates the issuance of Certificates of Return to all duly elected town union presidents across the 155 autonomous communities in Ebonyi State, serving as an official means of identification and authentication.
Chief Igwe directed that every elected town union president must submit a formal application letter bearing his name and address, duly endorsed by the traditional ruler of the respective community, to the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters on or before February 6, 2026.
He further instructed all affected officials to liaise with the Special Assistant to the Governor on Chieftaincy Matters to ensure the smooth and effective implementation of the exercise.
Reacting to the initiative, the President-General of Alioma Community and Spokesman of the Forum of Town Union Presidents in Ebonyi State, Hon. Monday Eze, described the policy as a welcome development.
Eze noted that the screening and accreditation of town union presidents would significantly reduce fraud and eliminate confusion within communities.
“The decision of the Ebonyi State Government to carry out the screening and accreditation of town union presidents of the 155 autonomous communities is a welcome development, and the Forum of Town Union Presidents in Ebonyi State is pleased with it,” he said.
He commended the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters for his commitment to peace and stability under the People’s Charter of Needs administration of Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru.
According to him, the forum fully supports the sanitization programme and pledged its continued cooperation with the Nwifuru administration, which he said has prioritised rural communities as a cornerstone of its comprehensive development agenda.
VICTOR NWEGEDE
