Bishop Chikwe Takes Helm, Ending Eight-Month Imo CAN Deadlock

After nearly eight months without a substantive leader, the Imo State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has elected a new chairman, bringing an end to a prolonged leadership impasse.

At a fresh voting session held by the association’s Electoral College, Most Rev. Moses Chikwe, the Auxiliary Bishop of the Owerri Archdiocese, was chosen as the new Imo CAN chairman. Chikwe stood as the only candidate nominated by the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria and received unanimous support from all delegates present.

The leadership vacuum had lingered because the previous attempt to elect a chairman failed to meet the required support outlined in CAN’s constitution. In that earlier contest, the initial Catholic nominee did not secure the necessary two‑thirds majority of votes, leaving the position unfilled for months.

In his remarks after the election, Chikwe described the process as peaceful and pledged to focus on the core aims of CAN, including promoting unity among Christian groups across the state and advocating for justice and human dignity in society.

He also committed to working closely with all recognised blocs within the state association — including Pentecostal, African Instituted Churches, and other Christian fellowships — to strengthen cooperation and ensure CAN speaks with a unified voice on issues affecting Christians in Imo.

Supporters of the new leadership expressed optimism that the resolution of the crisis will help restore organisational stability and enable CAN in Imo to return to its work of spiritual guidance and community engagement.