In his address before the election, Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma made bold to say that Igbos have always been first in Nigeria in almost all human endeavors and so the election would be free and fair. He however blamed disunity and pull him down syndrome for the recent setback of the zone, but expressed optimism that the recent show of unity and cohesion exhibited by Igbo leaders prior to the Ohanaeze Ndigbo election was a pointer that the zone has braced up to reclaim its lost glory in the country.
Making his remarks, the governor of Ebonyi State, Engr. Dave Umahi lauded Ohanaeze for a peaceful conduct of the election. In his valedictory speech, the outgoing president of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo appreciated the body’s general assembly for giving him the four years mandate to serve Ndigbo in the capacity of president general of the apex Igbo socio cultural organization. He used the opportunity to recount some achievements of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo leadership led by him which included the audacious advocacy for the restructuring of Nigeria and creation of an additional state for the South East zone, appointing committee members for Alaigbo Stabilization Fund Committee, revisiting the Ohanaeze Ndigbo constitution which review was ongoing, among others.