Profile
Chief (Barr) Kelechi Eric Igwe is a Nigerian lawyer and the current Deputy Governor of Ebonyi State, under the leadership of Governor David Umahi.
Personal Life
He was born on 17th June 1970, to the family of Ambassador Chief Francis Igwe of Onu-Nwakpu, Ndufu Alike, Ikwo Local Government Area, Ebonyi State. He is married to Mrs Ethel Nnenna Igwe and they are blessed with three children. Igwe’s interests include football, volleyball, reading and writing. He is a Christian and he serves as a Deacon in the Assemblies of God Church.
Education
| School | Qualification | Year |
| Enugu State University of Science and Technology(ESUT) Business School, Enugu State | M.Sc Human Resource Management | |
| University of Jos, Plateau State | PhD Law | |
| University of Jos, Plateau State | LL.M (Master of Laws) | |
| Nigerian Law School, Lagos State | BL (Bachelor of Laws) | 1994-1995 |
| Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, Anambra State | LL.B | 1989-1993 |
| Abakaliki High School, Ebonyi State | General Certificate of Education
Senior Secondary School Certificate |
1988 |
| Umunneato Central School, Oun-Nwakpu, Ndufu-Alike, Ebonyi State | First School Leaving Certificate |
Work History
| Place | Position | Date |
| University of Jos, Plateau State | Board Member, Governing Council | 2010-2011 |
| Ministry of Education | Special Assistant to Minister of Education | 2008-2010 |
| Kellys Chambers | Principal Partner | 2002-2015 |
| Ministry of Industry | Special Assistant to Minister of State for Industry | 1999-2002 |
| Independent National Electoral Commission, Abuja | Personal Assistant to the National Commissioner | 1998-1999 |
| Enechi Onyia & Associates, Enugu State | Partner-in-chambers | 1996-1998 |
| Niran Akinduyi & Co | Counsel-in-chambers | 1995-1996 |
Onu-Nwakpu, Ndufu Alike, Ikwo LGA, Ebonyi State
17th June 1970
Ebonyi State
All Progressives Congress
Christianity
Deputy Governor, Ebonyi State (since 2015)
Political History
In 2000, Igwe was a member of the Federal Government Delegation to Nigerian Peoples’ Forum Washington D.C. He also served in the Operations and Mobilisation department of Umaru Musa Yar’Adua’s presidential campaign in 2007.
The capacities he had worked in, coupled with his experience with politicians and public servants, made David Umahi select Igwe as his running mate for the 2015 Ebonyi State elections. They emerged winners on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party and were re-elected in 2019.
In 2020, Igwe defected to All Progressives Congress along with his leader, Governor David Umahi.
On 8 March 2022 Eric Kelechi Igwe was sacked as Deputy Governor of Ebonyi State alongside the governor by the Federal High Court in Abuja for defecting to the All Progressives Congress (APC) while in office. On 1 April 2022, The Court of Appeal in Enugu State affirmed Igwe as Deputy Governor of Ebonyi State, saying his defection to the APC was immoral but not unconstitutional while affirming an earlier judgement by the Federal High Court in Ebonyi. However the grounds for the sack of Umahi by the Federal High Court in Abuja is different from the Federal High Court in Ebonyi. The Court of Appeal in Abuja is yet to hear the appeal of the judgement of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Leadership Style/Philosophy
Awards & Honours
2021 Distinguished Excellent Achiever Merit Award by the University of Nigeria, Nsukka
Project
Criticism/Controversy
Following Igwe’s defection to All Progressive Congress, alongside Governor Umahi, People’s Democratic Party filed a suit against them, seeking their removal from office on account of their defection. According to PDP, by defecting from the party on which they were sponsored and elected as governor and deputy governor of Ebonyi State, to the APC, a political party that did not win the election, they have resigned or were deemed to have resigned from office. Igwe and Umahi however asked the Federal High Court to dismiss the suit, on the basis that votes casted belong to them and not necessarily the political party. The Federal High Court of Abuja fixed March 8th and 14th, 2022 as dates to deliver judgments on the case.
