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By Madu Obi As the November 8 Anambra State governorship election draws near, a research by ElectHER, a Pan-African non-partisan organisation advancing gender-inclusive democracy, has shown that women are very likely going to dominate the electoral process based on available data In the report released after an advocacy programme in Awka, the organisation, which received support from the European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EU-SDGN), observed that women will form the substantial part of the electorate in the November election. According to the organization, the recently conducted voter registration exercise showed that 97,832 (58%) were women, while 70,355 (42%) were men. "While Nigeria's overall women representation in public service remains low, Anambra State stands out as one of the country's most progressive states in terms of women's political participation and leadership since the start of the Fourth Republic in 1999. The state's record stands as one female governor (2006-2007), four female senators,12 female House of Representatives members and six female Ministers. Why this matters for the 2025 election is that the legacy of visibility signals opportunity as Anambra women enter the polls with a strong precedent, though the structural and institutional barriers remain", the report noted. The organization, however, observed that despite Anambra's relatively historical record, female representation at the top of the ticket remained low in 2025, with only two out of the 16 governorship candidates being women. "The higher percentage of women as deputy governorship candidates (37.5%) of male- led tickets suggests that the political parties may be leveraging these positions to balance gender optics, rather than enabling women to lead tickets", the report added. ElectHER’s Chief Executive Officer, Ms. Ibijoke Faborode, however, expressed worry over the security situation ahead of the election. Her report said in part: "The security landscape in Anambra ahead of the November 2025 election is already showing signs of tension, with gendered risks particularly evident. Based on reported security incidents, triangulated against ElectHER voter sentiment data, where residents in some LGAs highlighted fear of violence and community insecurity as major deterrents to voting, a Red - Amber - Green security assessment has been developed across Anambra's 21 LGAs, with red indicating high risk, amber moderate risk and green low risk. To deliver a credible, inclusive and violence-free election, coordinated action is required from the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, security agencies, and political parties. ElectHER urges INEC to scale up adhoc staff recruitment beyond its planned 26,000, to match the expanded voter register, as well as dismantle bottlenecks in accessing PVCs. The electoral body should also strengthen voter education by directly diseminating materials, especially to women, to ensure adequate gender representation in the deployment and mobilization of electoral officers, such that there should be at least one female official per polling unit. " For security agencies, there should be proactive deployment to identified flashpoints, with gender- sensitive protection measures, including female security presence and rapid response systems to address the issue of intimidation of female staff, candidates and voters. " Political parties should align their campaign messages with voter's top concerns , which include security, job creation and healthcare, while embracing visibility of female candidates and ensuring inclusivity within campaign structures to reflect electorate expectations." . As part of the advocacy, officials of ElectHER visited some organizations, including the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), where the State Commandant, Maku Olatunde reiterated the Corps’ readiness to secure the electoral process before, during, and after the polls. He promised that female officers would be deployed in sufficient numbers, noting that inclusivity in security operations is vital for credible elections.

By Madu Obi The All Progressives Congress, APC, in Anambra State, has inaugurated a 22- member state campaign council for the November 8 governorship election in the state, with the party's candidate, Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu boasting that the party has quality people that can take APC to the Government House. The campaign council was inaugurated by the South East deputy national chairman of APC, Dr Ijomah Arodiogbu. During the ceremony, four sitting members of the state House of Assembly, dumped their political parries and joined the APC. The lawmakers who declared for APC were Hon Augustine Ikedoji representing Nnewi North,who was elected on the platform of Young Progressives Party, YPP), Hon Patrick Okafor of the Labour Party who represents Onitsha North, Hon Paul Oti representing Orumba North and also of LP and Hon Patrick Udoba (Anambra West, who was a member of APGA. Addressing members of the council, the APC candidate, Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu, said the party had gathered men and women that will take the party to where God has destined for it. He said: "When God wants to deliver people, he sends men and women. With these people in the campaign council, we will make it to government house in Awka. I want to say that Government House Awka is possible. But we cannot win this governorship election without working hard and from what is happening in our party, it means we are working hard. It is becoming clear to me that APC will take over the government of Anambra, but we must work because faith without work is in vain." Reeling out his plans for Anambra State if he wins, Ukachukwu added: "We are going to declare emergency in agriculture and other enablers that will make the state to grow from where it is now to the top. We have the revenue that can take our state's development index to the top. "Anambra is an industrial and trading state and making industries work in Anambra will be my priority. It cannot work unless you make the inputs that can make them work and one of the things that can make industries work is security. If the state is secure, investors will come. The market for the products is there, but the only thing lacking is the enabling environment. We have already done studies that will help us fight insecurity and once we come into office, these plans will begin to work. It is not an issue of trial and error. Once security is in place, we will develop a power plant that will serve the whole state, especially when our state boasts of large deposits of oil and gas. If we have an ideal environment, all our people establishing their manufacturing companies elsewhere will come home to invest. We will provide water in all our major cities of Awka, Onitsha and Nnewi and equip our hospitals in such a way that they will become attractive for those who need to obtain quality treatment." According to Ukachukwu, the money the state is getting is enough to develop every part of the state, adding, "I assure our people that sixty percent of our income can develop our state."

By Madu Obi Nnamdi Azikiwe University, (UNIZIK), Awka, Anambra State, has expressed worry over the poor response of its students to the Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) scheme, lamenting that only about four percent of its student population have so far applied. Chairman of the university’s NELFUND committee, Professor Stephen Ufoaroh, said in a memo that out of over 66,000 students’ data already uploaded to the NELFUND portal, only a fraction has taken the next step to register. The loan scheme, designed specifically for indigent students, comes with zero interest rate and no collateral and the beneficiaries stand to enjoy direct payment of their tuition fees to the university, as well as a monthly upkeep allowance of N20,000 into their bank accounts. Describing it as disheartening, Ufoaroh said that the institution has fulfilled its own obligation, adding that it is left for students to seize the opportunity. He lamented that students from South Eastern states have not shown enthusiastic interest in the programme, warning that they could be denying themselves the chance to complete their studies with less financial stress. “We must not allow this opportunity to pass us by. This is a national initiative to help students go through school. Let’s register now and worry about repayment modalities later,” he appealed.

By Madu Obi The National Coordinator of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) Media Warriors Forum, Mr Chinedu Obigwe, has said that no amount of propaganda by the opposition will push the people of Anambra State into what he described as a “suicidal mistake” of voting against Governor Chukwuma Soludo in the November 8 governorship election. In a statement in Awka, Obigwe dismissed what he termed “childish propaganda” being peddled by the opposition, insisting that the Soludo administration enjoys the confidence of the people. “All that the opposition is banking on to win the governorship election is blackmail. But the truth remains that their propaganda cannot sway the electorate into making the suicidal mistake of voting for them. The people of Anambra State are happy with Governor Soludo’s divine mission, and no amount of cooked-up propaganda can stop his re-election on November 8. Not all governors can do what Soludo is doing. Some would have chosen to be flying in a chopper, but he decided to be driving through difficult terrain so as to feel the pains of the people and ensure their sufferings are alleviated,” Obigwe noted. He faulted the video circulating online showing Governor Soludo’s convoy driving on the bad portions of the Enugu Otu road, in Anambra East local government area, explaining that the governor’s decision to drive through the road was for him to inspect the ongoing 28.1km Enugu Otu–Aguleri road project and commission the newly built General Hospital in the area. According to him, the road project, which cuts across Enugu Otu, Mkpunando and Eziagulu Otu Aguleri communities, is being executed in three phases, with the first 8.1km phase already 95 percent completed. He said that the governor has given assurance that the second and third phases will be delivered without abandonment. Obigwe commended Governor Soludo for constructing a new General Hospital for the people of Enugu Otu, a project he said the community did not request for, but which the governor considered necessary out of empathy for their health needs. Describing Soludo as a “humane leader delivering governance with empathy,” he urged Anambra electorate to return the governor to office for a second term to consolidate ongoing development projects across the state.

By Madu Obi Anambra State governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, has said that he will hand over the governorship of the state to another governor that will be elected from Anambra Central after his tenure, stating that the rotation of the governorship seat among the three senatorial districts has been officially institutionalized and should be upheld in future elections. Governor Soludo made the declaration during an endorsement rally for his candidacy for the November 8 election and the return of Hon. Ifeanyi Ibezi, a former member of the House of Representatives, to the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), at Abatete, Idemili North local government area. He recalled that Anambra North handed over to Anambra South senatorial zone, which he represents after eight years, assuring that on completion of his eight years, it will be the turn of Anambra Central Senatorial district, which will have the opportunity to govern for another eight years. While welcoming Ibezi back to APGA, Soludo said that APGA serves as the umbrella for all progressives in Anambra State, adding that the party is synonymous with Anambra. "Anambra is APGA, and APGA is synonymous with Anambra", he said. He noted that his re-election campaign has evolved into a grassroots movement, with communities actively taking ownership by organizing endorsement rallies at their own expense. "We are going round the state welcoming major people back into the fold. APGA has never been more united and stronger than it is today", the governor added. Expressing confidence in a resounding victory for APGA across the state's 5,720 polling units and 326 political wards, Soludo addressed the longstanding electoral challenge in Idemili North, which has the highest number of voters yet consistently produces low turnout He urged communities in the local government to demonstrate their voting strength and break the paradox in the upcoming November 8 election. He also assured the people that ongoing developments in the area will continue as Anambra continues to rise. Secretary to the State Government and Director General of the Soludo-Ibezim campaign organization, Professor Solo Chukwulobelu, highlighted some of Governor Soludo's initiatives in Idemili, including the construction of two smart schools, recruitment of teachers, among others and expressed optimism for an APGA victory. Also speaking, APGA National Chairman, Barr. Sly Ezeokenwa, and State Chairman, Barr. Ifeatu Obiokoye, welcomed Hon. Ibezi back into the party, expressing their satisfaction that with his return, APGA has become the dominant party in the area. Top government officials, including the Commissioner for Works, Engr. Ifeanyi Okoma, Commissioner for Information, Dr. Law Mefor, special adviser on youths, Dr. Nelson Omenugha, Mayor of Idemili North, Mr. Stanley Nkwoka, assured the Governor of victory at the polls. Others at the occasion including the mayor of Idemili South, Mrs. Amaka Obi, former chairman of Idemili North, Chief Okey Muoaro, and former Commissioner for Information, Chief Tony Onyima, all assured the governor of their support for his re-election bid and victory of APGA in the area. The people also presented N20 million cheque to support the governor's campaign.

By Madu Obi The Anambra State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Afam Obidike has said that the various projects initiated by the wife of the governor of the state, Mrs Nonye Soludo, has impacted positively on the lives of most families in the state. Obidike, who is also the Coordinator of the Healthy Living with Nonye Soludo, an Initiative of the governor's wife, while addressing journalists at the Government House in Awka, listed a number of interventions the state’s First Lady has been implementing since her husband assumed office over three years ago. He listed key achievements under the Healthy Living initiatives to include appointment as Insecticide Treated Nets, ITN, Ambassador by the Malaria Consortium, resulting in the free distribution of over 3.8 million Insecticide-Treated Nets to households across Anambra. The provision of the nets is critical protection against malaria, which is the leading cause of death among children and mothers, establishment of Healthy Living clubs in more than 800 primary and secondary schools, as well as fostering a culture of wellness and healthy habits among young people through cooking programmes, quizzes, and competitions that educate families on nutrition and health. Other projects, Obidike added, include provision of free cervical cancer screening and treatment to thousands of women, offering of free corrective surgeries to children born with cleft lips and palates. Still projects like the implementation of statewide free vaccination campaigns against rotavirus, measles, and polio, safeguarding the health of the state’s children and distribution of over 14,000 packets of Nonye’s Healthy Living pap to malnourished children in Primary Health Centers, with recovery rates exceeding 50% and introduction of anti-shock garments to prevent maternal deaths during childbirth. Obidike said: "Her programmes are driven not by headlines, but by the heartbeat of a malnourished child, the silent cry of a young girl lacking sanitary products, the quiet dignity of an elderly woman receiving her first multivitamin, and the hope of youth learning vital skills. The First Lady’s dedication has positively impacted mothers, children, the elderly, persons with disabilities, and every community in the state, culminating in her winning the prestigious First Lady Award of the Year in Nigeria for healthcare and child nutrition. She is making a profound impact through what may appear as small acts of kindness, but performed with enormous love and dedication. Since inception of the present administration, Her Excellency has consistently prioritized the health and wellbeing of Ndi Anambra, and today the tangible results are manifesting in the lives of the people that reflect measurable and significant impact. The First Lady’s outreach to orphanages and special homes, exemplify her commitment to the most vulnerable members of society. Her engagement with youths across all 21 LGAs, inspire countless young people to pursue healthy, productive lives. The Anambra State Skilled Women Training Programme, which empowers women by training them in traditional, male-dominated skills such as solar engineering, paint manufacturing, and Keke mechanics are wonderful innovations. To date, over 6,000 applications have been received, with more than 100 women already trained in the various areas. Also, pad banks initiative has been established by her in over 350 secondary schools, ensuring that no girl misses class due to menstrual challenges. Similarly, more than 26,000 elderly citizens have received free multivitamin supplements to promote healthy aging, alongside dignity kits distributed during flooding emergencies. The Nonye Soludo Healthy Living Initiative has also enrolled over 1,000 persons with disabilities into the Anambra State Health Insurance Scheme, demonstrating a commitment to equity and inclusiveness and she has awarded lifetime scholarships to brilliant but indigent children across the state, thereby fostering educational opportunity. In an effort to promote food security and backyard farming, Mrs. Soludo has donated and distributed over 15,000 packs of hybrid seeds to encourage home gardens." He noted that it was in recognition of her outstanding contributions that she was conferred a doctorate degree in Public Health and Child Nutrition by Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU). According to Obidike,the Healthy Living Schools Garden Competition has further nurtured agricultural innovation among students. Describing Mrs Soludo as a virtuous and compassionate woman dedicated to improving the lives of Ndi Anambra through the flagship initiative, Obidike said her accomplishments resonate deeply, embodying timeless compassion and dedication that remind Anambra people of the transformative power of genuine humanitarian service. "For the first time in the state’s history, Her Excellency secured a strategic partnership with the First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu CON, through the Renewed Hope Initiative, unlocking new opportunities for thousands of Ndi Anambra. Mrs. Nonye Soludo may not wear a habit or walk the streets of Calcutta adorned with expensive jewelry or clothes. Instead, she walks humbly through the markets of Onitsha, the schools of Aguleri, and the homes of Ndi Anambra, establishing her presence through genuine service,” Her legacy is not written in stone, but in the lives she transforms. In her, we see the making of another Mother Teresa. In her, we see leadership that heals. In her, we see the soul of Anambra. "Let us celebrate her not only for what she does but for who she is: a mother to the forgotten, a light to the underserved, and a quiet force of transformation. Ndi Anambra, let us stand firm. Let us protect this progress so that Anambra continues to shine as the light of the nation", Obidike stated.

By Madu Obi The Digital Force, a pressure group within the All Progressives Congress (APC), has come in defense of the Anambra State governorship candidate for the November 8 election, Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu, over alleged N billion land deal in Abuja. A recent viral video showed Prince Ukachukwu being harassed by some people who alleged that he is indebted to them to the tune of N1billion. In a statement signed by its team leader, Mr Ikeagwuonwu Chinedu Klinsmann, the group threatened legal action against those who alegedly made the allegation and circulated the video. According to Ikeagwuonwu, defamation of character is not free speech, but a criminal offense, adding that Evang. Ukachukwu’s legal team reserves the right to pursue appropriate remedies against the collaborators. He said: "The land transaction in question was governed by a duly signed Installment payment agreement between Evang. Ukachukwu (vendor) and Zoe New Dawn Nigeria Ltd, chaired by Chief Stephen Achema Akpa (purchaser), executed on 11th August, 2022, covering Plots 7 and 8, Cadastral Zone E29, Lugbe East, Abuja, valued at N6billion. The agreement clearly provided for staggered payment: an initial deposit of N1.75billion, followed by structured instalment to complete the purchase price. But Mr. Stephen Akpa could not come up with this initial deposit as he paid only N850million and requested access to the plots without completing the payment. It also stipulated that any refund of deposits would only become due if and when the vendor (Ukachukwu) successfully resells the property to another buyer." The group contended that most businesses are structured such that if the buyer fails to make complete payment, he would only get a refund when the property has been resold, noting that most businessmen have lost money in such deals, but in the case of Mr Akpa, he was promised his money once the property was sold. It decried lack of due process in seeking a refund by Akpa, who, according to him, instead of approaching an authority, resorted to self help. Ikeagwuonwu insisted that the APC candidate is a man of impeccable integrity, who has built his name over the years and known as a philanthropist, businessman and employer of labour.

By Madu Obi The Anambra State Police command has reacted to a trending video on social media, alleging that one of its officers is aiding kidnapping and violent crimes in the state. Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, in the state, SP Tochukwu Ikenga stated categorically that the video is not only false, mischievous, and malicious, but also a calculated attempt to tarnish the image of the Nigeria Police Force and demonize the said officer. "For the avoidance of doubt, the officer featured in the video is an Assistant Commissioner of Police, who is not serving in the Anambra State Police command. The officer remains one of the pride of the Force in character and crime-fighting. We urge the public to note that, compared to the past, Anambra State has continued to record remarkable progress in the fight against violent crimes, particularly kidnapping. This achievement is the result of the collective efforts of Ndi Anambra working hand-in-hand with security agencies to condemn and resist criminal activities in the State. The sacrifices of our security operatives in safeguarding lives and property are not in vain. We therefore call on the general public to disregard the misleading video and remain resolute in supporting lawful security efforts", the PPRO said. He warned that the command shall invoke the relevant cybercrime laws to ensure that the originators of "this malicious content" does not go unpunished.

By Madu Obi In a fulfilment of his campaign promise, Anambra State Governor, Professor Chukwuma Charles Soludo returned to Nzam in Anambra West local government area during which he commissioned the newly constructed 13-kilometer Nzam road. Before now, the headquarters of Anambra West local government could not be easily accessed due to lack of motorable road. Speaking at the local government headquarters after visiting various markets and locations in the area, Governor Soludo declared that the barrier has finally been overcome, allowing residents to commute on a tarred road. He highlighted other fulfilled commitments made by his administration since coming to office, stating, "I made a promise accompanied by a significant consequence during the last gubernatorial campaign. Today that promise has been fulfilled as we can now drive into Nzam in September." He commended prominent figures from Anambra West who have joined his political party, the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, which he likened to a religion in the state. The Governor emphasized that his current focus is on project inspection, commissioning, and launching initiatives, as he is committed to an agenda with a set timeline. "We are on a mission of transformation and development, reaching out to those who have been overlooked and neglected," he said. The Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr. Tony-Collins Nwabunwanne, remarked on the significant changes in the political landscape, noting that every local government area has benefited from the democratic dividends in less than four years under Governor Soludo's leadership. During the event, the state chairman of APGA, Barrister Ifeatu Obiokoye, welcomed new members from other political parties who joined the party.

By Obi Madu The Anambra State government has faulted the State Performance Index 2025, conducted by Philips Consulting Limited, which placed the state in the 34th position. The state Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Mrs Chiamaka Nnake, in a statement, wondered why Anambra, which ranked 8th in 2024, should nosedive to the 34th position, noting that intellectuals and observers alike are asking whether PCL is not losing strategic focus, or have joined the crowd of spurious rating agencies. "Philips Consulting Limited (PCL), once renowned for its expertise in human resource services, now appears to have veered into areas far beyond its traditional competence. Everyone now rushes into the business of 'ranking' as the new fad in town. While it is not wrong for a firm to broaden its scope, such ventures demand rigorous training, capacity development, and methodological soundness. Without these, credibility is compromised, and reputations are put at risk. The 2025 PCL State Performance Index (PSPI) raises fundamental questions: What capacity does PCL have to rank Nigerian states? How was this research designed, and on what basis were such sweeping conclusions drawn?", Nnaka said. Recalling that even though the state government was amused by the methodology and its results in 2024 and never took it seriously, "now, in 2025, with a phantom change in methodology, the state suddenly plunged to 34th" According to her, such dramatic swings within one year should have compelled any serious consultant to re-examine assumptions, refine data, and validate findings, perhaps via field engagement, and not publishing questionable outcomes. Citing what was observed as "sample size bias", the Commissioner noted that "PCL claimed 78 respondents for Anambra State, a population of over 6 million people (adjusted 2022 census estimate)", adding that by the widely accepted Cochran’s formula, a minimum of 385 respondents is required for 5% margin of error, while 9,593 respondents are required for 1% margin of error. She said that PCL was also involved in sample distribution bias. "PCL admits that 76% of its respondents were male. A credible survey must proportionally represent age, gender, income, and employment status, drawn from census or reliable population data." She added: "By skewing so heavily towards one gender and failing to stratify properly, the research was fundamentally compromised. The report appears to emphasize state expenditure levels without adequately measuring the efficiency or tangible outcomes of such spending. By focusing on the absolute amount spent, rather than juxtaposing it with the real impact achieved, the analysis risks overlooking whether resources are being utilized effectively - value for money No evidence exists that PCL engaged stakeholders, visited communities, or conducted any direct validation of outcomes in Anambra. Findings were inferred without context, first-hand observation, or alignment with verifiable state-level data." The Commissioner further said: "Anambra is a national leader in education. Since September 2023, the state has implemented truly free education from Nursery to JSS3, extending this to SS3 in 2024 in all public schools. Enrolments rose sharply—27.05% increase in primary and 10.36% increase in secondary schools—bringing the state’s out-of-school rate to just 2.9% (lowest out of 36 states and FCT, UNESCO). Additionally, over 8,115 teachers were recruited transparently and competitively and have continued to transform the Education Infrastructure. Without measuring learning outcomes and teacher/teaching quality, any educational ranking is incomplete. We are not aware of any other state where a government recruited 8,115 teachers within the first two years in office to end the era of schools without teachers. Over the past two years we have also been massively investing smartly in upgrading physical and technological infrastructure in the schools, and our students and teachers continue to win national and international awards. It will also be nice to know which State(s) do better in these milestones. In 2024, the National Primary Healthcare Leadership Challenge Awards (assessed by UNICEF, Dangote Group, NGF, and the Gates Foundation, among others) ranked Anambra No. 1 in the Southeast and No.1 in Nigeria, awarding Anambra $1.2m in recognition. We understand that the rankings were done by an international team of about 15 consultants who visited every state and the FCT. This is in addition to the celebrated revolutionary policy on free antenatal and free delivery in all public hospitals which has benefited over 120,000 women in two years as well as massive investments in general hospitals, telemedicine and tertiary services. Anambra’s child mortality rate is second only to Lagos State, and patronage of public hospitals has moved from 25% in 2022 to 73% currently— a historic record, etc. This contrasts sharply with PCL’s ranking of Anambra at 30th in Health—a glaring inconsistency that underscores the superficiality of their approach. In infrastructure, the state has awarded 842.2 km of roads in three years (including 8 bridges and flyovers), completing 546.3 km to date, including over 150km dualization projects— earning multiple awards for transformative infrastructure delivery. Yet, PCL’s methodology manages to underplay these tangible achievements. By relying on flawed methodology, weak sampling, and biased inferences, the PCL 2025 report has produced results that are not only misleading, but risk damaging its own professional reputation. When serious international organizations adopt rigorous, verifiable methods and rank Anambra at the top, and PCL simultaneously ranks it at the bottom, the credibility gap becomes impossible to ignore. If PCL seeks to expand into performance ranking, it must embrace the discipline of robust statistical methods, field engagement, and impartial analysis You cannot sit in Lagos/Abuja and rely on what a handful of people “think” to rank states. Anything less reduces serious work to mere propaganda."

By Iheanyi Chukwudi Citizens and residents of Enugu State have been called upon to maximize the opportunity of the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) and collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) exercise, to equip themselves to retain good governance in the state. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the State, made the call at the grand finale of its sensitization campaign aimed at reversing voter apathy. The party event which held at Amagunze, headquarters of Nkanu East Local Government, saw party leaders appealing to citizens to prioritize the collection of their PVCs, stressing that it is the instrument of power to decide who rules or represents them politically. Enugu State was said to have recorded the least number in the exercise so far. PDP sensitization train which moved round the entire local governments of the state before yesterday's grand finale, had earlier stopped at Agbani, headquarters of Nkanu West Local Government. State Chairman of the party, Hon. Martin Chukwunweike, while addressing the people, emphasized the importance of voter participation, urging residents to use their PVCs to reward Governor Peter Mbah for his achievements across the state when the time comes. Chukwunweike who was represented by his deputy, Steve Orurua, highlighted Mbah's strides in education, health, and infrastructure, including the establishment of smart schools and health centres across various wards. The Governor he said has a vision for a rail transport project, which according to him, is reminiscent of the transformational spirit of the late Eastern Premier, Dr. Michael Okpara. “The governor has bridged the gap between government and the governed through his people-centered policies,” he said, urging the people to obtain their PVCs ahead of 2027, to ensure good governance. Chairman of Nkanu East LGA and leader of the Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON) in the state, Hon. Sydney Edeh, in his remarks stated that his council, once considered one of the most backward in Enugu, has now taken the lead in development under Mbah’s administration. Also speaking, Special Adviser to the Governor on Political Matters, Chief Frank Anioma and the State PDP Publicity Secretary, Uche Obute, commended the council chairmen for mobilizing grassroots support and urged citizens to translate their voter registration into voting power in 2027. They called on residents to get their PVCs and work for the re-election of Governor Mbah.

By Madu Obi Local Government workers in Anambra State have staged a protest over alleged diversion of checkoff dues of members of the union into a private account. The workers, under the aegis of Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) who marched to the Government House in Awka, also protested the non-employment of fresh staff into the local government system for many years, lamenting that the service may soon go into extinction. In a communique issued by the union during an enlarged State Executive Council meeting, with representatives from the 21 local government areas and observers from the national secretariat of the union before embarking on the protest, the protesters decried the activities of few individuals in their union who, it claimed, want to ignite crisis in it. The communique and the placards were submitted at the Government House to representative of the state governor, Mrs Joy Soba who received and addressed the protesters. State chairman and secretary of the union, Comrade Eucharia Ughanwunne and Comrade BarIke Abugu who spoke on behalf of the union during the protest said there is a threat of extinction of local government service in Anambra State, going by the situation on ground. “The last employment into the Local Government Service of Anambra State was in 2001. While members are leaving through death and retirement, there has been no replacement efforts, making the service vulnerable to imminent extinction. We are also protesting the unlawful diversion of four months NULGE statutory check off dues by the office of Accountant General for local government. That position is reserved for career officer and the imposition of a non career officer is not only inimical to the service, but a recipe for career retrogression and unproductivity", they said. They also alleged that promotion in the local governments has been turned into money making venture. The officials also complained that over 100 staff have been sacked over alleged certificate forgery, noting that there is also compulsory induction of members into Institute of Chattered Local Government and Public Administration of Nigeria and retention of some HODs who have served beyond eight years on the same position. They said that although they are working for the re-election of Governor Chukwuma Soludo because of his sterling performance, the workers are unhappy that some appointees of the governor were working against him by trying to ignite crisis in their union. The governor should direct immediate and urgent massive employment of workers into the Local Government Service Commission to save it from extinction and immediate release of our withheld checkoff dues and reinstatement of illegally dismissed staff", the union pleaded.