Eni Uduma Chima, the All Progressives Congress (APC) House of Representatives candidate in the last general election, has been banished from his community, Ekoli Edda, in Edda Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, for stoking violence.
The former chairman of the Edda local government was slammed with a seven-year ban over his alleged role in a series of communal crises that have rocked the Ekoli Edda.
Eni will also pay the community ₦106 million as the cost of damages from the crisis he allegedly promoted between May and June 2025.
The decision was reached on the weekend during a well-attended general assembly meeting of the community convened by the Ekoli Band of Hope, the apex social, cultural, and economic body uniting all organisations and unions within Ekoli.
Samuel O. Amah-Mba, the national president of Ekoli Band of Hope, while reading the meeting resolution, said the drastic step was necessary to preserve peace and unity in the troubled community.
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“After assessing the crisis which occurred between May 12 and June 6, 2025, and reviewing damages including destruction of properties, looting, and injuries to residents, the community has held Eni Uduma Chima and his younger brother, Chima Eni Chima, responsible,” Amah Mba stated.
According to him, the cost of managing the latest round of violence and destruction was estimated at over one hundred and six million naira ₦106 million, which the duo has been ordered to pay to the community. However, the ban will remain in force for seven years regardless of whether the sum is paid.
“Even if he pays the ₦106 million, Eni Uduma Chima will still not be allowed into the community until after seven years,” Amamba emphasised. “Anyone found bringing him into the community or associating with him on communal matters will be treated as an enemy of Ekoli and sanctioned accordingly.”
He noted that the resolution will be officially communicated to all relevant security agencies in the state for enforcement.
The assembly, which brought together traditional rulers, town union branches nationwide, and delegates from the 12 component villages of Ekoli, was conducted under a heavy security presence to ensure peace.
Recounting the impact of the alleged disturbances, Ama Mba added:
“For over 15 years, Eni Uduma Chima has been linked to recurring unrest in the community. Our traditional institutions have been undermined, our elders disrespected, and our youths misled. Today, we have spoken with one voice: this must stop.”
He further commended the Governor of Ebonyi State, Francis Nwifuru, for his consistent support to the community, including granting office staff to their monarch and supporting the democratic election of town union officials, all in the bid to restore lasting peace.
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The general assembly concluded with a unanimous voice vote affirming the ban, and a renewed commitment by the people of Ekoli Edda to maintain peace, support state efforts, and preserve the dignity of their traditional institutions.
Eze Igwe John Igwe, the traditional ruler of Ekoli-Edda, and Emma Ndukwe, one of the stakeholders who attended the meeting in their submissions, said the meeting was a general assembly, the highest decision-making body of the community and that the resolution was final and binding.
“For over 15 years, this community has known no peace, and we have narrowed the root cause to Eni Uduma and his brother. Today, the community has risen to say, Enough is enough,” the monarch declared.
He added, “We want to restore dignity to our traditional institutions, which have been disrespected and desecrated by his actions. The unanimous decision is not just a punishment but a path to restoring peace and unity in our land.”
“Peace and security are paramount. This banishment is part of the community’s effort to safeguard its future and protect its people,” Ndukwe stated.
The leaders thanked Ebonyi State Governor Francis Nwifuru for his past interventions in supporting peace efforts, including presenting a staff of office to the community’s traditional ruler and facilitating the election of a substantive town union executive.
The accused Eni could not react to these allegations as his phone number, when contacted, was not reachable.
