Anambra State Commissioner for Information and Value Reformation, Dr. Law Mefor, has disagreed with Senator Victor Umeh over claims that former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi, has been endorsed as the preferred presidential candidate of Ndigbo ahead of the 2027 general election.
The disagreement dominated discussions at the Igbo Nation and Customs (INC) Political Summit held in Awka on Thursday, November 5, 2026.
The summit, organised by the Igbo Nation and Customs (INC), a grassroots membership organisation committed to the interests of the Igbo people, took place at St. Patrick’s Cathedral CWO Hall, Awka, under the theme, “Unity and Moral Values in the Political Future of Ndigbo.”
Dr. Mefor attended as the Special Guest of Honour. Senator Victor Umeh, representing Anambra Central Senatorial District, had insisted in his address that Ndigbo had already endorsed Peter Obi as their presidential candidate for the forthcoming election.
He argued that it would contradict the Igbo principle of ‘Onye aghala nwanne ya’ (Be your brother’s keeper) for Ndigbo to abandon one of their own in the presidential race.
However, Dr. Mefor disagreed with the position, maintaining that no such endorsement could be considered an official Igbo position without consultations with recognised leadership institutions.
He noted that key Igbo socio-political and traditional institutions, including Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the Igbo Council of Traditional Rulers and the South-East Governors’ Forum, were neither consulted nor approached for an endorsement.
Acknowledging Senator Umeh as one of the founding members of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Mefor also criticised Peter Obi’s political approach, particularly his failure to seek an alliance or merger with APGA before pursuing his presidential ambition.
He explained that Obi, who became the first governor of Anambra State elected on the platform of APGA, had established the practice of working with governments at the centre, a political approach later followed by his successor, Chief Willie Obiano, and currently sustained by Governor Chukwuma Soludo.”
“Peter Obi made a mistake. In the political process, parties work together through mergers or alliances. Obi didn’t approach APGA for any of these. If he had, maybe we would have supported his presidential ambition and he would leave other positions, but he is contesting everything from House of Assembly to President. APGA has to fight to survive as NDC’s success in Anambra means APGA’s death as happened in Imo.”
“This is politics, and every party is contesting to win. NDC should strive to win just as APGA is working to win and we will win. The masses/voters will decide by voting according to their consciences,” Mefor said.
The commissioner spoke on the importance of value reformation, stressing that hard work, wisdom, the fear of God and other positive values for which Anambra was historically known were what Governor Soludo was working to restore through the Ministry of Information and Value Reformation.
He urged the Igbo Nation and Customs organization to partner with the ministry in promoting moral values, responsible citizenship and the cultural ideals of Ndigbo.
