Onitsha Drug Market Erupts in Protest Over Caretaker Chairman’s Alleged Recklessness
By Suzy Chukwuechedom, Onitsha
Traders at the Onitsha Drug Market, Bridgehead,popularly known as Ogbogwu Market on Wednesday staged a massive protest against what they described as “executive recklessness” by their caretaker chairman, Mr. Chukwuleta Ndubisi.
The protesters, who marched through the streets carrying placards, demanded the chairman’s removal. Some of the placards read:
“Chukwuleta Ndubisi: A Leadership Failure in Ogbogwu Market!”
“Chukwuleta Told Us He Is Accountable Only to SPAD, Chief of Staff, and Perm Sec—Not to Traders!”
“Executive Recklessness in Ogbogwu Market!”
“Soludo Is a Professor but Appointed an Illiterate to Lead Ogbogwu Market!”
“All APGA Members in Ogbogwu Are Angry with Chukwuleta!”
“Governor Soludo, Remove Chukwuleta Now So APGA Can Win Traders’ Votes!”
Addressing journalists, the leader of the protest group, Justice for Ogbogwu, Mr. Chibueze Ifejiofor, said the demonstration was sparked by years of unchecked misconduct by the caretaker chairman.
According to him, “Mr. Chukwuleta Ndubisi was appointed as caretaker committee chairman with the understanding that he would serve for only three to six months before organizing an election. Shockingly, he has remained in office for nearly four years and still claims his tenure is not over.”
He added that before his appointment, Chukwuleta had always opposed caretaker appointments, yet after assuming power, he refused to conduct elections or vacate the position.
Ifejiofor also recounted how, during the NAFDAC invasion of the market in February 2025, the chairman ignored collective advice from traders on how to engage the agency.
“When NAFDAC sent a questionable letter through our platform without a letterhead, we pleaded with the chairman to consult a lawyer before signing any document on behalf of the market. He refused. At times, he arbitrarily locks up traders’ shops, accusing them of baseless offenses,” Ifejiofor said.
He revealed that he initially served on the caretaker committee but resigned due to what he described as Chukwuleta’s “autocratic leadership style.”
The group further accused the chairman of imposing unjust levies and misappropriating market funds.
“After NAFDAC shut down the market on February 9, 2025, we resumed business in July. Soon after, the chairman demanded that traders pay arrears of security levies even though no security services were provided during the closure,” Ifejiofor explained.
He noted that when the market’s transformer broke down in January 2025, power supply was cut off for months. Yet, the chairman recently demanded payment of electricity arrears for energy not consumed.
“Chukwuleta listens only to the Chief of Staff, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Parks and Markets, and the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry. He uses their influence against us, hence our decision to form Justice for Ogbogwu,” he added.
Ifejiofor further alleged that the chairman recently disconnected power supply to parts of the market, claiming traders had not paid their bills, while refusing to account for previous funds contributed for electricity maintenance.
He also accused the chairman of hiking levies on pharmaceutical companies:
“Before Chukwuleta assumed office, pharmaceutical suppliers paid ₦360,000 to the union per truckload. He increased the levy to ₦600,000, forcing many companies to stop supplying directly to the market.”
The group also condemned the chairman’s alleged political activities.
“Just last week, we saw on social media that our chairman donated ₦5 million to Governor Soludo’s re-election campaign on behalf of our union without consulting traders or obtaining our consent. When confronted, he responds by petitioning NAFDAC, police, or DSS, accusing dissenters of selling fake drugs or causing public unrest,” Ifejiofor said.
Another trader, Mr. Benjamin Ikebata (popularly called Senator), confirmed that six executive members of the caretaker committee had resigned in protest against the chairman’s “high-handedness and abuse of office.”
He said, “The chairman treats traders like his houseboys and runs the market as if it’s his personal property. During the NAFDAC invasion, he failed to protect us and even described protesting traders as touts dealing in fake drugs. What kind of leadership is that?”
Ikebata expressed concern that Governor Soludo and his aides appear indifferent to the traders’ plight.
“The Special Adviser to the Governor on Markets, Mr. Everest Uba, listens only to Chukwuleta, his brother, and ignores traders’ concerns. If this continues, Governor Soludo will lose the support of traders in the upcoming November 8, 2025 election. From Chukwuleta’s behavior, he cannot convince even ten traders to vote for APGA,”
Another protester, Comrade Sunday Ezeigwe, identifying himself as a Concerned Citizen of Ogbogwu, said Chukwuleta lacks the educational and managerial capacity to lead the market.
“When NAFDAC invaded, we asked him to go on air and defend us, but he refused. He also declined to hire a competent lawyer. That was when we realized he lacks the courage, knowledge, and experience to lead Ogbogwu Market,” Ezeigwe said.
He further alleged that the chairman “dropped out in Primary 4” and lacks the requisite education to manage such a complex market.
Ezeigwe also accused the chairman of extorting petty traders despite Governor Soludo’s ban on such levies.
“Despite the Governor’s directive, Chukwuleta collects ₦4,000 monthly from over 200 widows who sell cooked food in the market. He also designed aprons and forced 400 barrow pushers to buy them for ₦3,500 each. He demanded ₦2 million annually from the Barrow Pushers’ Union until they protested, after which he begged for forgiveness,” Ezeigwe alleged.
The protesters vowed to continue their demonstrations until the state government removes the caretaker chairman and conducts a proper election to restore transparency and trust in Ogbogwu Market leadership.
