TheNewsGuru

Tag: Anambra State

  • Anambra governorship election: INEC sets deadline for primaries

    Anambra governorship election: INEC sets deadline for primaries

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has set deadline for political parties to conduct primary elections ahead of the governorship election schedule for Anambra State in November.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports INEC fixed 10th April 2025 as the deadline for the parties to conduct primary elections ahead of the Anambra governorship election.

    The INEC statement signed by Sam Olumekun, National Commissioner & Chairman of Information and Voter Education Committee, reads in full below:

    “The Commission held its regular weekly meeting today, Thursday 6th March 2025. Among other issues, the Commission reviewed its preparations for the forthcoming off-cycle Governorship election in Anambra State, scheduled for Saturday 8th November 2025.

    “The public may recall that in line with the provision of Section 28(1) of the Electoral Act 2022, the Commission published the Notice of Election on 13th November 2024, over 360 days before the date fixed for the election.

    “By the provision of the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the election, the conduct of primaries for nomination of candidates by Political Parties commences in the next two weeks i.e. 20th March 2025 and ends on 10th April 2025.

    “So far, 12 out of the 19 registered Political Parties in the country have submitted the detailed schedules of their primaries. As agreed at our last consultative meeting with Political Parties held in January, doing so early will enable the Commission to plan for the effective monitoring of the primaries in line with the provision of Section 84 of the Electoral Act 2022. The seven parties that are yet to submit the required information are hereby reminded to do so in earnest.

    “Furthermore, we urge Political Parties to adhere strictly to their proposed schedules. Sudden changes to the dates, venues and modes of the primaries lead to avoidable demobilisation and remobilisation of our monitoring staff, thereby disrupting the Commission’s workflow. This also adds to the cost of monitoring primaries and the overall conduct of elections and electoral activities.

  • Popular youth leader shot dead in Anambra

    Popular youth leader shot dead in Anambra

    A youth leader identified as Chidebe Ibeakuzie (aka Mighty) has been shot dead by security operatives in a tussle over the ownership and control of a tricycle park near the military cantonment in Onitsha.

    Reports indicated that Ibeakuzie, who was reportedly from Obosi community, Idemili North Local Government Area (LGA) of Anambra State, and others, including an unspecified number of Keke Operators and passersby, sustained gunshot injuries.

    The unrest had started following a heated dispute between the families of late Tochukwu Anyaoku, an Obosi native, and Edward Ibuzo, a former Anambra State House of Assembly member representing Onitsha North 1 Constituency.

    The late Anyaoku had reportedly leased the tricycle park prior to his death last year, and his wife took over its management afterward. However, Ibuzo allegedly claimed ownership of the land, leading to a bitter standoff. The youths of Obosi accused Ibuzo of orchestrating an attack by hiring operatives from the Department of State Services (DSS), who they allege were responsible for the fatal shooting of Mighty.

    Ibuzo had denied any involvement, stating via a WhatsApp call to journalists that he was in Germany at the time of the incident, while he also has a court judgement authorizing him to take over the park.

    He alleged that DSS operatives had intervened after witnessing a suspected kidnapping, which led to an exchange of gunfire.

    A prominent Obosi stakeholder, Omezie Chukwurah, also known as “Governor Obosi,” lamented the escalating violence, revealing that previous police interventions had led to another Obosi youth being shot in the head.

    He further alleged that the operatives who killed Mighty arrived in vehicles linked to Ibuzo.

  • INEC ready for Anambra governorship election – REC

    INEC ready for Anambra governorship election – REC

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), says it is prepared  to conduct the Nov. 8, governorship election in Anambra State.

    Dr Queen Agwu, the State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), made this known on Wednesday, during an interactive session with journalists in Awka.

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had scheduled the state governoship election for Nov. 8, as one of the off-cycle polls in the nation’s election calendar.

    Apart from the governorship election, two bye elections would  also be conducted in Anambra State.

    The bye elections are due to the demise of Sen.  Ifeanyi Ubah, who represented Anambra South Senatorial Zone, and to fill the vacant Onitsha North Constituency seat in the State House Assembly.

    The seat, occupied by Mr Justice Azuka of the Labour Party, became vacant following his kidnap and murder by his abductors.

    “We are ready for the Anambra governorship election, hoping that political parties and the politicians are preparing also on their own,”the REC said.

    Agwu, who noted that the three elections could not hold on the same day, insisted that the commission was ready for the elections.

    She charged the political parties and their candidates to keep to the electoral rules.

    The REC advised the political parties to start mobilising, sensitising their members and organising their primaries.

    She assured the political parties and residents that the Federal Government would play its part by providing funds for INEC to conduct the elections.

    According to Agwu, INEC will conduct transparent and credible elections in Anambra state.

    She lauded the media for maintaining a robust relationship with the commission since her arrival in the State as the INEC boss.

    The REC said that objective and balanced reporting by the media has ensured peace in the state, adding “there was no misinformation throughout the general elections.

    “When I arrived the State in 2021, I identified with the media, provided all the working tool, released credible information, which created no room for rumours.

    “In Nigeria, when an official does the right thing, people will not acknowledge or praise you, but once one does the wrong thing, there is criticism all over the place.

    “Now elections are around the corner, there is no small election, any election is taken very seriously.

    “We have the governorship election fixed for Nov. 8, and INEC has started working towards it. We also have two bye elections in the state.”

    Agwu said that before the November election, the voters register would be updated.

    “We have been holding series of meetings with stakeholders, improving our technological systems and updating our records.

    “We need to engage more people such as adhoc staff, transporters among others, while security operatives are expected to improve better than what they did in 2021 general elections,” Agwu said.

  • Many feared dead as truck crashes into commuters in Anambra

    Many feared dead as truck crashes into commuters in Anambra

    A yet-to-be-ascertained number of persons was feared dead, when a truck conveying a 40-feet container, on Tuesday evening, crashed into a shuttle bus, tricycles and pedestrians at the Idemili Junction, near Oba, in Idemili  South LGA of Anambra.

    The Spokesperson for the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in the state, Mrs Margaret Onabe, confirmed the accident, but said she was still awaiting a detailed report from officers at the scene.

    Onabe said that she would provide updates as soon as possible.

    It was gathered that the trailer experienced brake failure, while descending a hill, causing the driver to lose control and crash into the shuttle bus, tricycles and other vehicles.

    “It crashed into some tricycles loading passengers at the junction and a shuttle bus, trapping people underneath the container, including bystanders waiting for vehicles,” an eyewitness account said.

  • Gov Soludo reveals how native doctors are igniting crime in Anambra

    Gov Soludo reveals how native doctors are igniting crime in Anambra

    Anambra State Governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to tackling insecurity, emphasizing that his approach involves addressing the underlying causes rather than merely chasing criminals.

    Speaking at the Governor’s Lodge in Amawbia, where he received a Good Governance Award from Vanguard Media Limited, Soludo stated that his leadership is fully dedicated to eradicating crime, as it is a divine responsibility placed upon him at this critical point in Anambra’s history.

    The governor recalled that upon assuming office nearly three years ago, seven local government areas in Anambra South were under the control of non-state actors.

    While security challenges persist, Soludo expressed confidence that his administration’s latest strategies would soon restore normalcy across the state.

    Security Initiative and Recent Crackdowns Following the enactment of the Homeland Security Law by the Anambra State House of Assembly, the government launched the ‘Udo Ga Achi’ security outfit, with Agunechemba serving as its operational wing.

    This unit, equipped with advanced logistics and patrol vehicles, has intensified efforts to curb crime.

    A significant aspect of its operations has been the arrest of fraudulent pastors and native doctors allegedly luring youths into criminal activities with false promises of wealth.

    After receiving the Vanguard Award, Soludo declared: “We have decided to take security issues to the foundation level. It’s not just about chasing criminals; it’s about getting to the roots. There are practices in the system that have continued to breed them, so we decided to uproot them. I am quite fascinated by how our efforts are being received.”

    He noted that many parents, particularly mothers, had lamented losing their children to crime despite raising them with good values. However, his administration’s current actions have rekindled hope among families.

    “Many of our women are lamenting that they trained their children, but they have basically lost them. They are now saying that they are beginning to have some hope and I know that this crusade is not a push button. In the coming decades, it will be appreciated that this generation imbibed certain attitudes,” the Governor added.

    The Rise of Fraudulent Religious and Traditional Practices
    Soludo strongly criticized the “get-rich-quick” doctrines promoted by some religious leaders, condemning their misleading messages.

    The Governor stated: “As Igbos, our values are rooted in enterprise, hard work, and integrity. Unfortunately, there is this new religion that promises people a crown with no cross—where they bring money to the pastor, and God supposedly doubles it. But God doesn’t double money for them; they need your own money for Him to bless you.”

    He further pointed out the hypocrisy of certain religious figures who claim to heal the sick yet seek medical treatment abroad when they fall ill.

    Similarly, Soludo criticized fraudulent native doctors who deceive young people with promises of supernatural wealth: “I understand that one of the children of one of the native doctors we arrested is working in one hotel in Imo state as a waiter. And this is the man making ‘Okite’ (prosperous charms) for people to become rich, but he can’t make his child rich. The unfortunate thing is that because of their actions, thousands of our youths are languishing in jail all over the world.

    “They made Okite for these youths with the promise that they will pass security checkpoints with hard drugs and the machines won’t detect them and when they pass, the machines will catch them and they are in jail all over the world.

    “And when they can’t get that, they go into yahoo yahoo. And because that one had failed, they went into the bush and became kidnappers to make easy money because they were promised that they don’t need to sweat.”

    The governor revealed that some of these individuals had misled young people into believing they could smuggle drugs past security checkpoints undetected, only for them to get arrested and imprisoned abroad. Others, having failed in online fraud (Yahoo Yahoo), turned to kidnapping and violent crimes in pursuit of quick wealth.

  • Anambra: Police vow to fish out suspected killers of 3 siblings

    Anambra: Police vow to fish out suspected killers of 3 siblings

    The Anambra Police Command has vowed to fish out the suspected killer(s) of three siblings in Nnewichi, Nnewi North Local Government Area of the state.

    The new Commissioner of Police (CP) in the state, Mr Ikioye Orutugu, made the vow, when he paid a condolence visit to the bereaved family and also had an on-the-spot assessment of the crime scene.

    It is recalled that unidentified person(s) sneaked into the residence of Mr Ejezie Udochukwu and murdered his three children and dumped their remains inside a deep freezer.

    The deceased were Chikaima, first daughter, nine, Chimziterem, second daughter, eight, and Chimdirim, second son, five.

    The CP said: “We are here today for an on-the-spot assessment of the unfortunate incident of the murder of three siblings and kept in the fridge here in Nnewi.

    “I am also here to console the family and relatives of the victims and affirm the commitment of the Police over this unwholesome crime, unlike other similar incidents recorded in the state, bordering on kidnapping and sudden disappearance of persons.

    “We shall unravel the circumstances surrounding such and ensure that the suspects are caught and justice served.”

    Orutugu assured the people that he was in the state to reclaim the public space from criminals and maintain law and order, in keeping with the vision to stabilise the security architecture in the state.

    “I intend to address the attitude of the people on ideology, based on crime bordering on attack on unsuspecting members of the public, security personnel, abduction of persons and destruction of government infrastructure and other offences.

    “Undoubtedly, the command has been bold in confronting these challenges and indeed recorded several successes lately in curbing some of these crimes.

    “I have been briefed on how Anambra people and the State Government, through the launch of Operation Udo Ga Chi (Operation Peace Must Prevail), have risen to collectively and joined voices in condemning acts that threaten our national peace and resolved to work together and discuss those issues that tear us apart, not minding our differences,” he said.

    He said that the command would take every professional step in crime prevention, through strategic deployment of intelligence assets and robust synergy with sister-security agencies, organised vigilance groups and other stakeholders, to deal with the security challenges in the state.

    “Anambra is blessed with vibrant, energetic and enterprising people, full of great potential.

    “This potential can only be fully realised in a peaceful, secure environment,” the police boss said.

    He urged journalists in the state to report security matters professionally and objectively, toward helping the security agencies tackle crime.

    He urged the people to remain law-abiding and continue to partner and support the police and other security agencies in combating all forms of criminality as well as ensuring public security and safety in the state.

    Orutugu advised those “who have been misled to take to crime” to retrace their steps, saying that the command was poised to deal squarely with all acts of criminality without regard for status.

    “A stitch in time, they say, saves nine,” he said.

  • Anambra 2025: APC national leadership vows to wrestle power from APGA

    Anambra 2025: APC national leadership vows to wrestle power from APGA

    The national leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has promised to provide the necessary support to wrestle power from the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in the Anambra governorship election.

    The National Chairman of APC, Alhaji Abdullahi Ganduje, made the promise on Saturday in Awka, while addressing the party stakeholders, including governorship aspirants,  members and pro-groups.

    Ganduje also inaugurated the new Secretariat complex of the party in Awka during his visit.

    “We have to take you back to the good old days, when the South-East was in the centre of Nigerian politics.

    “We assure you that the national headquarters of our party, in collaboration with the government of the day, is ready to provide all the necessary logistics arrangements and strategies, in order to ensure that we install the government of APC in Anambra.

    “We thank you because we have seen the vigour, commitment and intention to work towards winning the November 8 governoship election,” he said.

    He said that a situation where four political parties were controlling the five states in the South-East was unacceptable.

    “Therefore, there is the need for the people of the South-East to connect to the national ruling party. I assure you that we must connect you to the centre,” Ganduje said.

    He also said that Igbo people are found in every part of the country doing business, adding that by their businesses, they are already nationalistic in nature.

    According to him, the National Secretariat of the party would work with the Presidency to bring the South-East to the mainstream of national politics.

    He pledged the resolve of the APC-led government to ensure that all segments of the country were carried along in terms of development.

    He also assured the people that positive efforts were being made by the Federal Government to stabilise the economy and ensure guaranteed security of lives and property of the citizenry.

    Ganduje assured the people that the measure would ensure that all the past wrongs done against the South-East would be adequately  addressed.

    He commended President Bola Tinubu for his purposeful leadership “that paved the way for various reforms to bring tension under control through stable security, progress, unity and peace across the country”.

    He called for collaboration amongst all stakeholders and leaders in the South-East, expressing optimism that the country would definitely overcome its challenges and rise to the next level.

    “Our President is the most articulate, who believes in the progress, reforms and unity of the country.

    “With your collaboration, we will take Nigeria to the next level. We will work for you and we are seeking for your cooperation. We must connect you to the center and national grid of politics,” he said.

    Earlier, the State Chairman of the party, Mr Basil Ejidike, lauded the national leadership of the party for uniting members towards greatness.

    Ejidike said the party leadership and members were working together with plans aimed at winning the November 8 poll.

    He said, “APC in Anambra state is now the beautiful bride with many heavy weight with capability and ability trooping into the fold, which has made a huge difference.

    The five APC aspirants in the state include Mr Paul Chukwuma, Prof. Obiora Okonkwo, Mr Chukwuma Umeoji, Mr Johnson Onunkwo and Mr Nicholas Ukachukwu.

    They pledged their loyalty to both the state and national leaderships of the party.

    They further promised to work towards the stability of the party and to ensure it clinched the governorship seat at the Awka Government House in the November election.

    The aspirants promised to rally round any one of them that emerged candidate in the party’s primaries to enable the party win the governorship poll.

    Anambra is the stronghold of APGA, with the Peoples Democratic Party as a major force before the emergence of APC.

  • Labour Party announces date for governorship primary in Anambra

    Labour Party announces date for governorship primary in Anambra

    The National Executive Committee (NEC) of Labour Party (LP) has approved April 5 for its governorship primary in Anambra.

    The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Mr Obiora Ifoh, made this known in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja.

    Ifoh said that the National Secretary of the party, Alhaji Umar Ibrahim, had published this in a timetable and schedule of activities for Anambra 2025 gubernatorial primaries.

    According to him, the timetable indicates that the sale of expression and interest/nomination forms will commence on Feb. 10 while the sale of the delegate’s form will start on March 20.

    The national publicity secretary urged all interested aspirants to visit the party’s national headquarters for collection of the guidelines for the governorship primary and other necessary information.

  • Gruesome as three Nigerian siblings are found killed, stored in deep freezer

    Gruesome as three Nigerian siblings are found killed, stored in deep freezer

    A yet-to-be-identified assailant has killed three siblings – a boy aged 5 and two girls aged 7 and 9 – in their home and stored their bodies in a deep freezer in Nnewichi, Nnewi, Anambra State.

    TheNewsGuru reports that the mother of the deceased children, namely Ejezie Chikaima Daviana, Ejezie Chimziterem Dominica and Ejezie Chimdilim David, had left home to partake in an examination on the day of the tragic incident.

    According to reports, when she came back home after partaking in the examination, she met the  door leading to the house open, an unusual occurrence since the children always locked the doors whenever they went out to play.

    Narrating the incident, the father of the deceased’ssiblings, Ejezie Udochukwu, disclosed that  he was called on Saturday, February 1, and told about the incident by his wife and he had to rush to Nnewichi.

    Udochukwu said: When my wife got home, she didn’t see the children. She and others searched for them, even at the church where they served as altar boys and girls, but they weren’t there.”

    He added: “My wife told me after searching for the kids by herself and a search party, without success, in despair the deep freezer was opened and behold, the de@d bodies of the kids were there.

    “In the house, bungalow where we live with two tenants and the landlord, the kids were eating when the assailants stormed the house at about noon as there were traces of food in plates that were forcefully abandoned. 

    “The c0rpses of the kids have been deposited at a morgue and the police, CPS Nnewi, is where we reported the matter and the police are investigating. You can see that I am completely devastated. My three kids k!lled same time by yet-to-be-identified assailants.” 

    Confirming the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, said the Commissioner of Police, CP Nnaghe Itam, has ordered a full investigation.

    “The bodies have been recovered, and the CP has transferred the case to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Awka for thorough investigation. More details will be shared later,” Ikenga said.

  • Man nabbed with stolen baby in Anambra

    Man nabbed with stolen baby in Anambra

    Operatives of the Nigeria Police, Anambra State command have arrested one Joshua Simeon, 32, from Ohaozara in Ebonyi State, for stealing a baby,  at aged five.

    He was arrested on Saturday by police operatives attached to the Ogidi Area Command of Anambra State.

    According to the state police public relations officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, the suspect was arrested at Nkpor Central Park, Idemili North Local Government Area.

    Ikenga said, “The team recovered a five-year-old girl, Nkemdilim Jacob, allegedly taken away by the suspect from her parents living at Umuota Village, Obosi, Idemili North LGA.

    “The suspect had already boarded a commercial vehicle and was en route to an unknown destination when he was arrested.”

    He said the suspect was in custody and currently “undergoing interrogations to ascertain his motives and determine whether this incident is part of a larger child trafficking network.”

    Efforts were ongoing to reach out to the parents/relatives of the recovered child for a possible reunion, police said.

    The command assured the residents of the state of the commitment to protect vulnerable members of society, to combat child abduction/trafficking and to ensure the safety and well-being of all children in the state.