By Madu Obi The wife of the governor of Anambra State, Mrs Nonye Soludo, has said that any woman empowered is a family strengthened, Mrs Soludo spoke when she joined people of Idemili South Local Government Area at their 2026 August meeting and empowerment summit organized by the Mayor of the Council, Mrs Amaka Obi. The governor's wife said that what particularly touched her about the event was the emphasis on supporting the beneficiaries with practical means of livelihood. Among the items distributed during the event were sewing machines, baking ovens, salon equipment, motorcycles, shuttle buses and financial support for petty traders. According to Mrs Soludo, "the programme speaks to an important truth that when we equip the right hands to earn, create and grow, we strengthen entire families and communities." She commended the Mayor of Idemili South and everyone who contributed to make the initiative possible, adding that it was an opportunity to share another memorable moment with women. "I’m hopeful that the skills, tools and support provided will become seeds of prosperity for many families. And as I always emphasize, a woman empowered is a family strengthened, a community transformed, and a future secured", concluded.

By Madu Obi There was tension and sporadic gunshots at the council headquarters of Anambra East local government area on Saturday where election was supposed to hold for the Anambra State local government poll. The ruling All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, has no challengers in 20 of the state's 21 local government areas, but it challenged by Young Progressives Party, YPP, in Anambra East. Hundreds of people had gathered at the local government headquarters at Otuocha as early as 6am to monitor the distribution of election materials kept there, but YPP claimed that security operatives refused to allow its members into the compound. The local government collation agent for YPP, Chief Charles Ifediorah alleged that agents of his party were not allowed into the area to witness what was happening, describing the exercise as a “charade” and being manipulated in favour of APGA. According to Ifediora, a female member of YPP was hit by gunfire and was rushed to the hospital for treatment. Ifediorah said: "It's an appalling situation here. The scheduled local government election was to take place and we assembled all our agents from the 241 polling units to the local government headquarters by 6am. "Incidentally, we were refused entry into the local government premises to access voting materials We were outside before the Deputy Commissioner of Police arrived.and we were thereafter allowed to enter the premises. "In our presence, some vehicles left with election materials for Enugwu Otu, Eziagulu Otu and Nsugbe ward 1. It's a very disappointing moment for the YPP in Anambra East and following this development, we are boycotting the election because the process is already compromised. "The security agencies are aiding the compromised process and I was not even allowed to enter the inner room where the election materials were kept and distributed." He alleged that the sporadic gunshots around the local government headquarters were aimed at intimidating YPP supporters, claiming that one Ijeoma sustained injuries following the gunshots and was rushed to the hospital for treatment. He vowed that his party would follow the matter to its logical conclusion, noting that YPP zoned the chairmanship to Nsugbe because the area has not produced local government chairman since the creation of Anambra East local government. "For the sake of equity, justice and fair play, we want the next local government chairman to come from Nsugbe", he stated. While speaking at a campaign rally before the election, Governor Chukwuma Soludo had observed that any vote against APGA would be a wasted vote and the party is on ground. "In 20 LGAs, no party is challenging APGA and proper election will take place only in Anambra East, while others will be affirmation. This is because Anambra is APGA and APGA is Anambra and so none of them wanted to waste their time and money. "Following my 73% score during the governorship: election, other political parties felt there is no need for them to waste their money in the local government election and they ran away", the governor said. The Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission, ANSIEC, is yet to react on the situation in Anambra East local government area.

By Madu Obi The Minister of Works, Engineer David Umahi has ordered the closure of the old Niger Bridge to effect major repairs. Umahi, who spoke at the Ogbunike interchange in Anambra State linking the second Niger Bridge, said that during the period of the closure, traffic will be diverted to the second Niger Bridge. "Seven days from today, (Friday), we are going to close the first Niger Bridge and traffic will be diverted to the second Niger Bridge so that we can install the solar lights and the CCTV . "We will restore the first Niger Bridge like the same quality that we restored the third mainland bridge in Lagos That is the message and directive of Mr President", the Minister said. He urged the people of the South East to always appreciate what President Bola Tinubu is doing in the region and then ask for more. He lamented a situation whereby anytime there is a challenge, some content creators in the South East will say, oh, Igbos are marginalized, noting that such people lack appreciation of what the president is doing. He wondered where these people were during the past administrations when nothing happened in the South East, stressing that it is for that reason that he is asking Igbo people to be sensible. He said: "South East people must vote for the president in 2027 and this is what I am educating them on. If they are insulting me, it is not my business because they can't face me face to face. So it makes me happy that I am taking the attention of those insulting me. But the truth remains the truth. "Vote for President Tinubu so that these dividends of democracy will continue even in improved form after the election. Let it not be that when other people are voting, the people of the South East will be playing football and tomorrow we will start to complain. It is not acceptable. "We have to show gratitude to the president. I was a governor, a deputy governor and party chairman and never in the history of South East did we witness even 5% of what we are witnessing now. All our roads are being fixed and we are taking them for granted. "I know that a lot of people are beginning to know that this message is very important. If you are insulting the president, it won't stop him from winning and he must win." Urging Igbo people to be wise and support the president and the governors, Umahi added: "Our votes will not make our brother president and if you are insulting me because of our brother, you are wasting time because we are friends. "I am telling him to support the president because he cannot win. When our time comes, other people will support us. We will not play regional politics and politics of hate and sentiment. "Some of our elites are in agreement, but decide to keep quiet. President Bola Tinubu will win the 2027 election and I am happy that I am in Anambra State, which is a very strong base for the president because the progressives are working together. "In the last off cycle elections in Anambra State, both the governorship and one Senate seat, the progressives took all of them". He thanked the president for the work he is doing in the South East, adding that the South East has taken its pride of place in Nigeria. He also assured all contractors handling various projects that all the certificates generated will soon be paid for.