Och’Idoma nullifies chieftaincy title confers on prominent Agila sons and daughters in Benue

From Attah Ede, Makurdi 

The Idoma Area Traditional Council, IATC, has nullified chieftaincy titles  conferred on some prominent sons and daughters of Agila district by the Ward Head of Akpoge/Ogbilolo in Ado Local Government Area of Benue State.

The nullification was announced barely few days after the some prominent  individuals were conferred with different chieftaincy titles by the Agila Akpoge-Ogbilolo Ward Traditional Council.

This was contained in a statement  issued on Tuesday, Sept 1, 2026 by Mr. Adegbe Uloko, Secretary, Idoma Area Traditional Council On behalf of His royal majesty, Dr. Elaigwu Odogbo John, President Idoma Area Traditional Council and Vice Chairman Benue state Council of Traditional Rulers

The IATC declared that the conferment of chieftaincy titles by the Ward Head on August 29, 2026, violated an earlier declaration of the Council dated September 2, 2025.

Mr. Uloko noted that the purported conferment of chieftaincy titles by the Ward Head of Akpoge/Ogbilolo on 29th August, 2026, and any other Ward Head within Ado Local Government Area is in direct violation of the Declaration of the Idoma Area Traditional Council dated 1st September, 2025.

"Pursuant to the powers conferred on His Royal Majesty, the Och' Idoma by the Benue State Chieftaincy Law of 2016 (as amended),Part 1 Section 7(d) in line with the recognized authority of the Idoma Area Traditional Council (IATC) es the supreme traditional institution within Idoma land. notice is hereby given as follows: 

"That any title holder in Idoma Land of the esteemed Idoma Area Traditional Council who participated in the pseudo conferment at Agila and elsewhere on 29th August, 2026 is to note that the titles issued by the Idoma Area Traditional Council to them are hereby withdrawn with immediate effect. 

"That the general public, government institutions, and traditional stakeholders are hereby notified and directed to disregard the said conferments and accord them no recognition henceforth whatsoever, 

"That the Idoma Area Traditional Council remains the only legally constituted and government-recognized traditional authority within the Idoma nation, and any acts contrary to its directives constitute a breach of extant law", the statement said. 

The Council said the action was contrary to the authority vested in the Och’Idoma under the Benue State Chieftaincy Law of 2016, as amended.

It consequently declared all the affected titles “annulled, void, and of no legal, customary, or traditional effect.”

The traditional council further announced the withdrawal of titles previously issued by the IATC to any of its title holders who participated in what it described as the “pseudo conferment” at Agila and elsewhere on August 29.

It also directed members of the public, government institutions and traditional stakeholders to disregard the affected titles and accord them no recognition.

The Council maintained that it remains the legally constituted and government-recognised traditional authority within the Idoma nation, warning that acts contrary to its directives constitute a breach of extant law.

According to the statement, the decision was taken to safeguard the integrity of traditional institutions, uphold due process and maintain peace, unity and order within the Idoma Area Traditional Council