Former Minister of Information and immediate past President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief John Nwodo Jnr., has rejected his appointment as a member of the Advisory Council of Governor Peter Mbah’s Gubernatorial Campaign Council in Enugu State.
Nwodo communicated his decision in a letter dated October 28, 2026, addressed to Mbah, following a media report listing him among members of the campaign council.
In the letter, the former minister thanked the governor for the confidence reposed in him but declined the appointment, citing his commitment to political neutrality.
He explained that his position as the immediate past President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo required him to remain nonpartisan and maintain his role as a father figure to all, rather than align with any political interest.
Nwodo said he had pledged to remain politically neutral while serving as Ohanaeze President-General and believed that obligation should continue even after leaving office.
He stated, “As President-General of Ohanaeze, I swore whilst I was in that office to be nonpartisan. I believe, out of that office, I should remain a father and in that respect be completely nonpartisan in our local politics in Igboland.”
He further disclosed that he was not a member of any political party and intended to remain politically unaffiliated for the rest of his life.
“I presently have no membership card of any political party and I intend to keep it so until I die. This, I believe, will enable me to intervene as a father in any intra-party disputes amongst Igbos in politics,” he added.
The former Ohanaeze leader stressed that his decision was not a reflection of his relationship with Mbah, assuring the governor that he remained available to offer advice on issues concerning the state.
According to him, his neutrality would also enable him to counsel politicians across party lines on the need for love, unity and peaceful coexistence.
Nwodo consequently requested that the governor direct his staff to remove his name from all campaign-related publications, including notices identifying him as a member of the campaign council.
“Please kindly instruct your staff to delete my name from all party notices, including my name as a member of your Campaign Council,” he said.
Despite declining the appointment, Nwodo reaffirmed his personal relationship with Mbah, describing the governor as a friend and pledging to continue offering him patriotic counsel.
He said the decision would not affect their friendship or his commitment to supporting the governor through sincere advice in the interest of the state.
