Ikwuano Councilors Once Again Fight Dirty Over Street Lights Distribution

Councilors from Ikwuano Local Government Area of Abia State numbering up to four reportedly attacked another councilor, Hon. Nkem Ụba Ebila over the distribution of solar powered street lights.

The incident which happened on Tuesday at the council headquarters was said to have started when Hon. Nkem Ụba came to take delivery of solar powered street lights allocated to his ward, Oboro Ward 2 but was resisted by other Councilors, namely; Hon Ejike William – Councillor Oboro Ward1, Hon. Sunday Okoro Uche – Councillor Ibere Ward2 and Hon. Akobundu Agomuo – Councillor Oboro Ward 3.

According to reports, those councilors had already delivered theirs to their wards.

A staffer at the council headquarters who spoke to Dreamnews on the condition of anonymity said the three councilors conspired to withhold the street lights when Hon. Nkem Ụba and his Personal Assistant, Emmanuel Nwagu arrived to take delivery of the lights for reasons best known to them.

According to him, in the course of the argument, Hon Sunday Okoro Uche and Hon. Akobundu Agomuo violently attacked Hon. Uba, refused him and his PA from loading the lights into the truck he hired for that purpose.

He added that the councilors instead started taking the solar street lights into the office.

“Hon. Nkem Ụba came to the office at about 1 o’clock in the afternoon, to take his own allocation of the street lights, which was approved by the governor”.

“He came alongside his PA and they came along with a truck to carry the poles and the panels. The other Councilors have carried their own and some have already mounted them in their various wards”.

“I saw when the other Councilors were talking in whispers before they later stood up and blocked Nkem from taking the lights. They argued until it resulted in a physical fight”.

When contacted by Dreamnews correspondent, Hon. Nkem Ụba confirmed the attack. He said it took some soldiers who were providing security to the contractors working on the Umuahia-Ikot Ekpene Road to separate them.

“Yes, this afternoon I was attacked at the council when I went to carry the solar powered street lights for my ward, Oboro Ward 2”.

“My colleagues, would not let me carry my own allocated street lights. The other Councilors have taken theirs and many have already installed their own”.

“I went there with my PA but they refused, on the order of the Mayor, Anthony Nwaubani who has been instigating other Councilors against me”.

“It was this same people who attacked me sometimes in June, 2025. The same people who have conspired to deny me my rights as the Leader of the Ikwuano Legislative Council”.

“I was duly elected as the House leader, sworn in but up till now, the other guy has been parading himself as the leader”.

“Do you know that since December 2025, the Mayor, Hon. Anthony Nwaubani has withheld my salary?”

“They have denied me of all my statutory rights as duly elected councilor and Leader of the House”.

“Everytime, the Mayor will allocate my rights to a traditional ruler or he would just give it to anybody of his choice.”

“I know they are trying to make me look incompetent in the eyes of the public”.

“Do you know that after the fight, they wrote petition against me to Zone 9 police headquarters Umuahia, accusing me of coming to council with a gun”. But thank God, it was soldiers who helped separate the fight. If I had a gun, wouldn’t the soldier have seen it and they would have arrested me there for illegal possession of firearms?”

“These same people during the time of the house leadership saga brought juju to council chamber. The news was everywhere at that time.”

Hon Nkem Ụba called on the Governor of Abia State, Dr Alex Otti, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftency Affairs to intervene in the matter to bring lasting stability in Ikwuano Local Government Area.

Efforts made by Dreamnews to get the other councilors to speak were in futile as they declined speaking to our correspondent.