Igbo Group Petitions House to Remove NNPCL Executive Over Alleged Federal Character Breach

The House of Representatives on Thursday received a petition from the Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ezi Umuada Igbo, calling for the removal of Mrs. Sophia Mbakwe as Executive Vice President (Business Services) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), citing an alleged violation of the federal character principle.

Presented during plenary by Ikenga Ugochinyere, Chairman of the House Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream), the petition claims that Mbakwe, occupying a position designated for the South-East geopolitical zone, is not an indigene of the region.

Addressed to Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, the petition urges the legislature to investigate her appointment and ensure compliance with Section 14(3) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which mandates equitable distribution of federal positions across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.

Titled “Appointment of Mrs. Sophia Mbakwe as South-East Representative in NNPCL Management Team,” the petition acknowledged President Bola Tinubu for appointing an Igbo woman to a strategic national role but argued that the appointment undermines regional fairness.

“While we appreciate the President for appointing an Igbo woman to such a critical office, we are compelled to note that Mrs. Mbakwe is not from the South-East and therefore cannot legitimately serve as the region’s representative in line with the federal character principle,” the group stated.

The petition described the appointment as a “blatant breach of constitutional provisions guaranteeing balanced representation in federal appointments” and appealed for the role to be filled by a qualified South-East woman. “The South-East has numerous competent, qualified, and patriotic women who can effectively represent the region in the NNPCL management team,” the petitioners added.

The petition has been referred to the House Committee on Public Petitions for legislative review.

The controversy highlights ongoing public scrutiny of adherence to the federal character principle in senior federal appointments—a policy intended to promote equity, national integration, and balanced regional representation.

The NNPCL, now operating as a limited liability company under the Petroleum Industry Act 2021, maintains a top management structure reflecting Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones to foster inclusivity.

The House Committee on Public Petitions is expected to commence hearings on the matter in the coming weeks.