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Tag: Anambra State

  • INEC distributes election materials for Anambra by-elections

    INEC distributes election materials for Anambra by-elections

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has commenced the distribution of sensitive and non-sensitive materials for the by-elections in the Anambra-South Senatorial District and Onitsha-North 1 State Constituency.

    The INEC had scheduled the elections for Aug. 16.

    The INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state, Dr. Elizabeth Agwu made this known while distributing the material on Thursday in Awka.

    The exercise was carried out at the premises of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), before the representatives of various political parties, security agencies and the media.

    “We have been planning for this Anambra South Senatorial district by- election and Onitsha South State House of Assembly by-election. These by-elections were generated as a result of deaths of the two occupants of these seats.

    “We are at the CBN today with all the concerned parties to access the sensitive materials such as ballot papers, results sheets.

    “We packed the other sensitive materials such as the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and Electronic Voter Registration (EVR) at the INEC office.

    “We came over to the CBN to open other sensitive materials which we received on Wednesday night at the CBN here,” she said.

    Agwu disclosed that the sensitive materials kept with the CBN arrived on Wednesday night, while the non sensitive materials had already been received by the commission.

    According to her, all the parties are here; the observers, media and security agencies and we opened everything before everybody and they testified that there was no  “magomago” (fraud) and everything went on fine.

    All the materials for the two elections were received and signed for onward movement to the eight local government areas where the polls will take place on Saturday by the concerned political parties and party agents.

    She explained that the two by-elections in the state aim at filling the vacant seats at both the Senate and State House of Assembly, following the deaths of late Sen. Ifeanyi Ubah, Young Progressives Party (YPP), who represented Anambra South and late Mr Justice Azuka, Labour Party (LP), who represented Onitsha North Constituency 1 at the Anambra  legislature.

    The REC urged voters to come out en masse to cast their votes for the candidates of their choice.

    “We want the electorates to do away with rumour making the rounds that the commission had already written results of the elections or will rig the process in favour of anybody,” she said.

    According to Agwu, as we are speaking now, the vehicles are loading and they are going to the local government areas where they would continue the election process.

    She said that 8,400 adhoc staff with four adhoc staff per polling unit would participate in the elections.

    Agwu said that over 8,170 registered voters are expected to come out to cast their votes during the Onitsha North 1 State constituency poll while the figure for the Anambra South Senatorial poll could not be ascertained as of the time of this report.

    She assured the public of adequate security, following a resolution after a meeting of Inter Security Agencies for Election Security and stakeholders of the eight Local Government Areas towards ensuring a hitch free, peaceful and transparent exercise.

    “All the security agencies for the election have been moved to different areas for the election. They include the police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC), Department of State Services (DSS) and others.

    “We are poised for success, security agencies have assured Anambra people that there will be no loss of lives.

    “They warned that people should mind their businesses, if you have no business with voting and election on that day stay in your house,” she said.

  • Court of Appeal sets up petitions tribunal for Anambra by-elections

    Court of Appeal sets up petitions tribunal for Anambra by-elections

    The Court of Appeal has constituted an Election Petitions Tribunal for the National and State House of Assembly by-elections in Anambra.

    Mr Ibrahim Usman, the Secretary of the election tribunal  in Anambra announced this in a Statement in Awka on Wednesday.

    Usman said the tribunal would hear and determine petitions which may arise from the conduct of Senatorial and House of Assembly by-elections.

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is conducting by-elections for Anambra South Senatorial District and Onitsha 1 State Constituency on Aug.16.

    The respective seats became vacant following the deaths of Sen. Ifeanyi Ubah in July 2024 and Mr Justice Azuka who was kidnapped and later found dead in February.

    Usman said the tribunal would hear and determine petitions which may arise from the conduct of Senatorial and House of Assembly by-elections.

    He said the Tribunal Court Hall was located at the High Court of Justice, Judiciary Headquarters Awka.

    “This is to notify the general public that Justice M. B. Dongben-Mensen. has constituted the National and State Houses of Assembly EPT to hear and determine petitions that may arise from the conduct of Senatorial and State Assembly Bye-Election on Aug.16.

    “This is pursuant to the powers conferred on the President, Court of Appeal by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) and the Electoral Act, 2022.

    “Sequel to the above, the Hon. Chief Judge of Anambra State, Hon. Justice Onochie M Anyachebelu has granted the use of the Tribunal Court Hall located at High Court of Justice, Judiciary Headquarters Awka, Anambra State for the use of the Tribunal,” he said.

    Usman said members of the public who wish to make enquiry were advised to contact the Registry/Secretariat of the Tribunal at the above mentioned address.

  • Anambra governorship: Ngige disowns picture in APC candidate’s poster

    Anambra governorship: Ngige disowns picture in APC candidate’s poster

    Senator Chris Ngige, former governor of Anambra, says he did not consent to the use of his picture in the campaign poster of All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate for Nov. 8 election.

    Ngige, who made the clarification in a statement signed by Mr Hyggy Obialo, his Special Assistant on Tuesday in Awka, said that he was on sabbatical from active partisan politics at the moment.

    The statement read in part, “our attention has been drawn to the online poster in circulation with the photograph of Sen. Chris Ngige, featuring together with the APC governorship candidate and his deputy in the Nov. 8 governorship election.

    “We want to use this medium to inform the general public that neither the consent nor approval of our principal was sought or obtained before the publication was made and disseminated.

    “We further wish to inform the general public that Sen. Ngige is taking his well-deserved rest after 25 years of active partisan politics and public service.

    “We, therefore, advise the perpetrators to respect the wishes of our principal, who has indicated in many fora that he is out of partisan politics for now,” Obialo stated.

  • Anambra Guber: Electorate told to shun ‘money for vote’

    Anambra Guber: Electorate told to shun ‘money for vote’

    Chief Jeff Nweke, candidate of Action Alliance (AA) party in Nov. 8 Anambra governorship election has urged  the electorate to reject financial inducement and vote for the candidate that will deliver dividends of democracy.

    Nweke made the call after service at Hear the ‘Word of God by Fire’ Church in Awka on Sunday.

    He said any politician who offered money to get the vote of the electorate would first of all use public money to replenish his pocket and would not be answerable to the masses.

    According to him, reject monetary inducement, those who buy your votes will steal your money.

    “Nobody with good intentions will give you money to vote for him, vote according to your consciences, vote the person you are sure will work for you.

    “Vote buying breeds bad governance and that is why there is poverty, insecurity, underdevelopment, social vices, crime and cultism in the society today,” he said.

    Nweke said it was an unfortunate paradox that while statistics showed increasing GDP numbers and reality showed that the standards of living of the people was decreasing.

    He promised to invest in security, agriculture, education, and social security if elected.

    The candidate said the people also have role towards making the society a better place by actively engaging in the political process and obeying the laws of the land.

    “GDP numbers must reflect the better standard of living of the people.

    “Politicians confuse people with GDP per capita which is what everybody will get if the assets are shared but it is not reflecting in their lives,” he said.

  • Police arrest suspected IPOB member in Anambra

    Police arrest suspected IPOB member in Anambra

    The Police command in Anambra has detained a suspected armed robber, believed to be a member of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), in the state.

    The suspect was arrested at Umuazu village, Nise, in Awka South Local Government Area of the state.

    Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday in Awka.

    “Operatives of the Anambra Police Command’s Special Anti-Cultism Squad, Enugwu-Ukwu, in the early hours of Aug. 10, arrested one Charles Chinonso, aged 32.

    “He is a suspected armed robber and member of a separatist group. A vehicle earlier reported stolen in Imo was recovered.

    “The recovery took place at Umuazu village, Nise, in Awka South LGA,” Ikenga said.

    He explained that the arrest followed a complaint by a victim, who reported the vehicle was snatched at the World Bank Housing Area, Owerri West LGA, Imo.

    According to him, acting on credible technological intelligence, police operatives traced the vehicle’s location and effected the arrest.

    The Commissioner of Police, Ikioye Orutugu, assured the public the command would liaise with Police command in Imo to ensure the suspect and vehicle are processed under extant legal procedures.

  • INEC delivers election materials ahead of bye-elections in Anambra

    INEC delivers election materials ahead of bye-elections in Anambra

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has disclosed that non-sensitive election materials have already arrived in Anambra State and have been distributed ahead of the upcoming bye-elections in the State.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Dr Elizabeth Agwu, INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Anambra made the disclosure on Friday while stating that robust security measures are in place to ensure smooth conduct of the polls.

    While affirming the commission’s preparedness to conduct the up-coming bye-elections, Dr Agwu announced that 12 political parties will participate in the Anambra South Senatorial bye-election scheduled for August 16.

    In addition, she disclosed that nine political parties will contest in the Onitsha North Constituency 1 bye-election for the Anambra State House of Assembly.

    Recall Senator Ifeanyi Ubah, who represented Anambra South in the Senate, passed away in July, 2024.

    Similarly, Mr Justice Azuka, lawmaker representing Onitsha North Constituency 1 in the Anambra State Assembly, died following his reported abduction by gunmen on December 24, 2024.

    The death of the legislators necessitated the conduct of the bye-elections.

    Agwu also noted that the training of ad hoc staffers, including Presiding Officers (POs) and Assistant Presiding Officers (APOs), began on Friday and will conclude on Sunday across 15 local government areas in the state.

    “To ensure the credibility of the bye-elections, individuals found culpable in previous exercises have been blacklisted, among other measures taken,’’ she said.

    Agwu expressed concern that certain political parties are focusing on propaganda rather than genuine campaigning.

    “Let me emphasise that everyone contesting in the elections is a candidate approved by INEC, but ultimately, it is the voters who will decide the winners,” she said.

    Some of the candidates contesting in the Anambra South Senatorial bye-election include: Mr Donald Amangbo of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and Mr Azuka Okwuosa of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Also contesting are; Mr Peter Ekwueme of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Mr Azubuike Okoli of the Young Progressives Party (YPP) and Chief Emma Nwachukwu of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), among others.

  • Flood wreaks havoc in Ogbaru community

    Flood wreaks havoc in Ogbaru community

    Flood has wreaked havoc in Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra, destroying houses, property and farmlands.

    Ogbaru is a flood-prone community in Anambra, which has continually suffered devastation in the past years.

    The flooding followed persistent rainfall that caused the rise of the water level from the River Niger.

    A NAN correspondent who visited the area said that some residents were seen wading through the waters, while houses, farmlands, and private and public facilities were submerged.

    According to NAN, residents now paddle wooden canoes to their destinations, as the roads in the area have been submerged.

    When contacted, the Executive Secretary, Anambra State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Mr Paul Odenigbo, disclosed that all the residents in water-prone areas were well sensitised about the impending flood that is expected this year.

    Odenigbo said that the state government had prepared a haven for those who would be affected by flooding, adding that personnel were on the ground to evacuate affected residents when the floods became unbearable.

    He noted that this was the early stage, and the water would continue to rise daily.

    “All water prone areas in Anambra were well sensitised about the flood situation, they are not taken unaware, and the agency is preparing its staff who work on the field to mitigate the flooding.

    “They are also getting the holding centres ready, by preparing them, fumigating them and preparing them for occupation by people who are going to be affected by the flood, it’s a normal thing at this stage,” he said.

    When asked if the people will not be adamant to evacuate to a haven, he explained that such resistance could happen with some residents, as the agency experiences it yearly.

    “The high water is not a new thing to them, they have been living with it year in, year out, it’s not the way you are seeing it, they are seeing it, when you tell them to go, they just laugh at you, because to them, nothing has happened.

    Efforts to get the reaction of the Anambra Commissioner for Environment, Mr Felix Odumegwu, failed as he did not pick his phone calls nor respond to the text messages sent to his phone.

  • Ojukwu varsity get substantive VC

    Ojukwu varsity get substantive VC

    Gov. Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra has announced Prof. Kate Omenugha as the substantive Vice Chancellor (VC) of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University.

    Soludo made the confirmation in an appointment letter delivered through Prof. Solo Chukwulobelu, the Secretary to the Anambra Government at the Government House, Awka on Wednesday

    Omenugha, until her confirmation, has been VC in an acting capacity since December 2023. The appointment marked the end of the selection exercise, which started with a formal advertisement on January 2.

    Mr Christian Aburime, Press Secretary to Soludo, who made this public, quoted the governor as wishing Omenugha a successful tenure and assured her of his administration’s support while calling on the university community and stakeholders to accord her the needed support.

    He expressed optimism about the continued growth and development of the institution under Omenugha’s leadership.

    Omenugha is a professor of Mass Communication and had earlier served as commissioner for education in Anambra.

  • Despite stern warning, VeryDarkMan leads procession in Anambra

    Despite stern warning, VeryDarkMan leads procession in Anambra

    Despite a stern warning from the Anambra State Police, Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), led the Candlelight procession in memory of Mr Ifesinachi Onyekere, an entrepreneur and owner of Fish Magnet, a popular fish farm in Awka, on Tuesday.

    Onyekere, a business coach, was shot in his house on July 26, taken away in his own car by unidentified assailants and was later found dead.

    The procession was held on the major streets of Awka, with a major stop at the popular Arroma junction before it terminated at the deceased’s residence in Okpuno.

    Speaking on the demise of Onyekere, VDM said the candlelight procession was held to honour ‘Fish Magnet’, and also raise awareness on the insecurity in Anambra and across the country.

    He called on relevant stakeholders to urgently address the worsening security situation in Anambra.

    VDM expressed his gratitude to the youths for turning out in large numbers to show their support, solidarity and for their peaceful conduct.

    On his part, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), who was in the procession, said candlelight processions are not just about mourning a single individual.

    Ikenga said it was a show of the collective will of the residents, especially the youths, to demand a significant reduction in the killings occurring in Anambra.

    He said the Police were actively investigating the incident and following every lead received.

    Ikenga said they have already recovered the vehicle used in the crime, and the victim’s family had provided valuable information.

    ALSO READ || Breach of peace: Police fire strong warning at VeryDarkMan

    According to him, we are confident that the perpetrators will be apprehended very soon.

    “We are here at the candlelight procession to ensure that no one’s rights are violated and to maintain order throughout the event,” he said.

  • Governor’s wife settles hospital bills of 200 patients

    Governor’s wife settles hospital bills of 200 patients

    Wife of the Anambra State Governor, Dr Nonye Soludo, has called on political leaders and well-meaning individuals to always respond to the needs of vulnerable people around them.

    Mrs Soludo, Founder of the Healthy Living Initiative, made the appeal on Friday during visits to hospitals in the state, where she paid the medical bills of 200 patients.

    The gesture was part of activities marking her 55th birthday celebration.

    Some of the beneficiaries were selected from Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital, Awka; Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi; and the General Hospital, Okpoko.

    During her visits, she engaged warmly with patients, offered prayers, and provided discreet financial support to many in need.

    Speaking to newsmen afterwards, Soludo said she believed that true leadership was rooted in service, compassion, and making a positive impact.

    She explained that she had a long-standing tradition of marking her birthdays not with parties, but by visiting hospitals and homes for the less privileged.

    “I encourage political leaders and well-meaning individuals to take time to bring joy to the vulnerable in society, no matter how small the effort.

    “Making someone smile doesn’t cost much; sometimes, all it takes is your presence. Even helping an elderly woman find a place to sleep is an act of love,” she said.

    Soludo said her annual visits were a personal way of reflecting on the true meaning of human existence, showing love, giving hope, and putting smiles on people’s faces.

    “Each year, I spend my birthday with the sick, the motherless, and the vulnerable. Bringing happiness to others is my greatest source of joy. That is all I need to feel fulfilled,” she added.

    She also commended the healthcare workers for their dedication and lauded the cleanliness and management of the facilities.

    The beneficiaries expressed gratitude to the Governor’s wife and offered prayers for her continued well-being.