THE Governing Council of Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike, AE-FUNAI, has been tore apart over the insistence of the Pro-Chancellor/Chairman of Council Dr. Tony Nebo to conclude the process “before Christmas of 2025”.
Council had shortlisted 8 out of the over 35 candidates who had indicated interest in the seat that becomes vacant on 10 February 2026 and adjourned the process until January 2026. Members of the Council are alleging that the Pro-Chancellor/Chairman has fallen under the influence of the Ebonyi State Government which is said to have a preferred candidate.
The Pro-Chancellor/Chairman’s WhatsApp message of Monday 13 December 2025 set off a flurry of exchanges that are escalating the situation. “Good morning dear fellow Council members.
As the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, I am informing us that our scheduled Council meeting to conclude the selection of a new Vice-Chancellor for AE-FUNAI will hold and concluded before Christmas of 2025.
Anything contrary to this arrangement should be ignored,” the message read. “Sir, Chairman the law provides that for there to be a schedule of meetings of the Council at least 5 members must be in agreement, you cannot take a unilateral decision.
Please stop embarrassing us the overall opinion is that it should in be January! Again it looks like you want to disadvantage contestant’s from other States,” was the first response to the Chairman. Another reply read, “Sir, with all due respect to your office. This is dictatorship as it stands.
Chairman doesn’t mean you have the right to take decision without considering other Council members. I think you should seek proper guidance”. The unease has built up with more messages rejecting the Pro-Chancellor’s decision.
“You have not told us why you are rushing this process so I Hon Chisom Dorcas Obih reject your decision to rush the selection process for the appointment of a new substantive Vice Chancellor for AE-FUNAI.” More members refused to agree with the new schedule.
“Mr Chairman, the Governing Council is not a one man show, rather a team that comprises all the Council members. The Act establishing it makes reference to the Council in the selection of the VC and not the Chairman alone. It’s important that the Chairman understands what team work means.
The Chairman is the head of the team not himself the team. The Chairman is not the council rather the head of the council,” was another message. “Chairman, by your actions, it seems u have a hidden agenda.We all deliberated and agreed yesterday that this meeting should be postponed to next year since we are not TIME barred,” another member who supported the views of other members stated.
“It is not in the best interest of Council for u to want to create problems where there is none. “I stand by the decision we took yesterday that the VC selection process should be shifted to next year. “Chairman, u are trying to escalate the situation, so that u can achieve ur plans.
It is not right to sacrifice the peace of Council becos of ur preferred candidate,” the member accused the Chairman. “My dear Chairman, “It’s very surprising that after all the plea of the council members to move the meeting to sometime in January you have refused.
What’s the urgency? “What’s the plan? How will it benefit the AE-FUNAI ? How will it benefit council members? And how will it benefit you? Importantly, note that as Council we must work together! “I STILL STAND ON OUR EARLIER DECISION TO HOLD COUNCIL MEETING IN JANUARY.
Many thanks,” another angry Council member contributed to the exchanges. “Good afternoon, Pro Chancellor/Chairman and Honourable members of Council. “I want to appeal to the chairman to work with other members of the council to consider shifting the dates to early January since we are not TIME barred.
“The office of the VC will be vacant on the 10th of Febuary. There is ample time for us to sit and select an incoming VC. “Sir, a tree can not make a forest. We are not asking for anything impossible. Pls let us apply wisdom in anything that we do,” another member wrote.
“My Distinguished Council Chairman, in line with the position of other members of council, the input of the Governor in this process may not be seen and percieved as devoid of personal interest. “This festive period is very tight but we still have the whole of January to conclude this process.
We should avoid anything that would make the Council seem compromised. “Sir, pls note that the cost of a chartered flight or any specially arranged flight within this period is quite significant.
“May I humbly suggest that this process continues in January 2026. “My thoughts,” Egwu, Emmanuel Chimezie, a Fellow and Chartered Accountant proposed. As the heat mounted, Dr. Nebo replied with a message titled, TO KEEP THE RECORDS STRAIGHT. “
1. I wrote a letter to the Hon. Minister of Education and informed him, among other things, that we wanted to complete the remaining processes of getting a new VC in Abuja, due to security concerns.”
2. The Minister contacted the Governor of Ebonyi State about the security concerns.
3. While we were in the hotel during our last Council meeting, the Governor of Ebonyi State, invited me to see him. Hon. Jack Isobo accompanied me to see the Governor.
4. The Governor told us that he learnt of our security concerns. He assured us that he would provide security for us in Abakaliki.
5. Because of the long time it is taking to get a new VC, the Minister of Education called me to know what was delaying us.
6. I informed the Minister that because of the transportation problems during this festive season, we were considering shifting the exercise to mid-January 2026.
7. The Minister told me that he was sending his representative on Council so that two of us will meet the Governor to sort out the transportation problem.
8. At the meeting with the Governor, he promised to help and directed us to the Governor’s Protocol for further actions,” Dr. Nobody explained as they feel that external influences have taken over the process. “A (chartered) aircraft that will fly Council members to Ebonyi will be at the private wing of Abuja airport by 7 am.
Departure is 7.30 am,” message informed eight members who are in said to be in Abuja. Aggrieved Council members are wondering who is paying for te chartered aircraft. Some members allege that the Ebonyi State Government paid for the craft.
“Let it be the evidence of the chairman’s desperation to install their preferred candidate,” one of the members said of the was to leave Abuja on Wednesday. The Council meeting is from 18-20 December.
By the law setting up ye university, only te Registrar/Secretary, not the Chairman of Council. Daily Query sent messages to Dr. Nebo and called him. He did no respond to the message. And his phone was switched off.
