By Kamsi Anayo, Awka
Ahead of 2027 general elections in Nigeria, the Igbo Agenda Dialogue (IAD), a non-partisan socio-political platform, has planned to host the first ever Igbo political summit in the first quarter of 2026 for a unified and proactive political action.
Chief Chekwas Okorie, Convener and National Chairman of the group made the disclosure in a statement on Wednesday.
He revealed that the group had also planned to be a coalition of all the associations, organizations, and unions to constitute a powerful non-partisan Igbo political grid.
According to him, the key highlight of the summit will be the unveiling of the first Igbo Charter after the famous AHIARA DECLARATION, as Igbos have been facing existential challenges and problems since the end of the Nigeria/Biafra war in 1970
“I urge all patriotic Igbo men and women, youth associations, unions, and institutions to support the Igbo Agenda Dialogue (IAD), by all lawful means possible to deliver on the noble objective of reawakening the Igbo political consciousness.
“We have the capacity to redraw the Nigerian political map by simply taking our destiny in our own hands. We have no excuse to be irrelevant or beggarly in our common patrimony called Nigeria.
“A resurgent Igbo beyond where our founding fathers left it is possible in our time. A unified and proactive political action in the 2027 general election will draw both local and international attention to the Igbo Nation. The time is now or never.
“Igbo people in the 13 states, where they are indigenous and in the other 23 states and the Federal Capital Territory, have been facing existential challenges and problems since the end of the Nigeria/Biafra war in 1970.
“We have survived, thrived, multiplied, and prospered only by the special grace of God and our doggedness, resilience, and never-say-die spirit.
“My fellow compatriots, I am of the firm belief that we can reverse our unacceptable situation without firing a shot. We are unarguably the ethnic nationality with the largest population and widest geographical spread in Nigeria.
We have the most enviable network of associations, unions, groups in Nigeria, and the diaspora. We are like a sleeping giant that only needs to awaken from its self-induced slumber to resume its place of pride in the country,” Okorie added.
He noted that millions of Igbo people were compelled by excruciating circumstances to seek more conducive environments abroad for greener pastures, including education and acquisition of skills to improve their well-being and provide for their families and relations back in the Homeland
