traditional igbo political organization was based on a quasi-democratic republican system of government. in tight knit communities, this system guaranteed its citizens equality, as opposed to a feudalist system with a king ruling over subjects. this government system was witnessed by the portuguese who first arrived and met with the igbo people in the 15th century. with the exception of a few notable igbo towns such as onitsha, which had kings called obi, and places like the nri kingdom and arochukwu, which had priest kings; igbo communities and area governments were overwhelmingly ruled solely by a republican consultative assembly of the common people. communities were usually governed and administered by a council of elders.