In a move aimed at protecting the integrity of the Chieftaincy institution in Bonny Kingdom, the Bonny Chiefs’ Council has warned its members to desist from involvement in politics and exhibition of partisanship in political matters or risk suspension from its activities.
By the customs and conventions of the Bonny Kingdom, chiefs who are custodians of tradition and culture, maintain unity of the people and are expected to remain neutral in political contests. This is aimed at safeguarding the integrity of the chieftaincy institution and ensuring that chiefs remain fathers to all, irrespective of political affiliations.
The warning was issued at the end of the session of the council on Wednesday, August 20, 2025, in Bonny after deliberations on the report of the names of three chiefs published as members of the campaign council of a political party in respect to the forthcoming local government elections in Rivers State.
In a five-point communique issued at the end of the session, which was jointly signed by the chairman, Bonny Chiefs’ Council, Se- Alabo (Amb.) Dagogo Soala and Palace Secretary, Festus S. Pepple, the council stated that, “failure to comply with this directive shall attract appropriate traditional sanctions as provided by the customs and standing orders of the Chiefs’ Council, including but not limited to suspension from participation in the council’s activities.”
The Council said it initiated steps and verified that chiefs Adienyesigha John Phillip Halliday, Iganima Jack Manila Pepple and Benjamin Adda-Allison were named as “members of the campaign council of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Bonny Local Government Elections in Bonny LGA.”
According to the communique, the affected chiefs were directed to withdraw their names from the list and desist from involvement in partisan political campaign structures and rather maintain the apolitical structure of the Chiefs’ Council in Bonny.
The communique, which was issued from the King Perekule Royal Palace, Bonny, assured the people of the kingdom that the chiefs’ council will remain neutral in any political process. They also resolved that any chief who engages in partisan politics “does so strictly in his personal capacity and shall not enjoy the recognition, privileges, or protection of the council.”
