Search Results

By Madu Obi The governorship candidate of the Labour Party, LP, for the November 8 Anambra State election, Dr. George Moghalu, has detailed how he would fight insecurity in the state if elected the next governor. Addressing reporters in Awka, Moghalu lamented that there is so much insecurity, adding that something drastic has to be done to change that narrative. He said: "The reality on ground is that the state is insecure and something drastic has to be done, otherwise everyone will be in trouble. So, no matter what anyone does to distract attention, the fact remains that the state is insecure. In our 12- point agenda, we consider insecurity as very important. We can change the narrative and tackle the problem from different perspectives because it is a major challenge. Apart from addressing the kinetic and non kinetic issues, youth unemployment, which is scary, there should be a data bank from where we should be employing the youths to fit into various sectors. This is an era of technology and so we should bring in technology to fight crime. There should be central control system with CCTV cameras mounted all over Anambra to monitor the security situation. We will use drones to cover the map and locate the hideouts of the criminals across the state. All the 179 communities in the state will be provided with trained vigilante operatives to serve as quasi police since we don't have state Police. We will document and properly train, equip and remunerate them so that when you see a vigilante operative, you will respect him. If this is done, you will see graduates joining the vigilante group and it will become an alternative force and credible." Moghalu said there is no community in the state that doesn't have retired military and police officers who can form the backbone of the state vigilante. "We will bring them to tap their knowledge and expertise to train our vigilante so that we won't have a ragtag outfit who wear tattered dresses and cover their faces as if they are criminals. The worst thing you can do to a society is to arm an untrained person and pay him peanut. What you have succeeded in doing is to create a new wave of armed robbers. If government cannot train them properly, they should be disbanded. For example, how can they fight crime with shuttle buses and old sienna vehicles? Government should buy brand new Hilux vehicles and equip them with modern security gadjects so that if crime is committed anywhere in the state, it could be detected immediately. This thing is not rocket science. Also, the federal security operatives, like the police, military and civil defense, should be provided with life insurance coverage that protects them for life. Government should provide educational opportunities for their children and their spouses employment opportunities. Those in business should be supported so that when they are posted to any part of the country, they should be assured that their welfare is guaranteed", he stated. Moghalu also spoke on the recent war of words between the incumbent governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo and the deputy governorship candidate of All Progressives Congress, APC, Senator Uche Ekwunife, describing it as very embarrassing. He added: "The commentary coming out of Anambra State from among we politicians is a sad development and I believe that campaigns should be conducted in an orderly and peaceful manner. There are many contending issues in our polity that we need to talk about. We should not belittle ourselves getting involved in personal commentary by casting unnecessary aspersions and using foul language. As we approach the governorship election, we should concentrate on what we intend to offer the people. If we see things that are not working well in government, it places us with the responsibility of drawing the attention of the citizenry to those shortcomings and then proffer solutions. I believe that what we should be doing at this time is to market ourselves and be telling the people how we hope to lessen their burden to make the society a better place and change the narrative in Anambra State. Talking about mundane issues and qualifications should not form part of the campaign. We should concentrate on how we should deliver dividends of democracy to our people. As far as I am concerned, the issue should be how to make it better by providing alternatives. There are infrastructure and erosion issues which are things that touch people's lives and not personal issues."

By Madu Obi The Anambra State Police command has arrested four suspected cultists following a violent clash at Nsugbe, Anambra East local government area. The operation was carried out in conjunction with the local vigilante group. The state Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, said the operatives sighted the cultists as they were attacking each other with cutlasses, broken bottles, daggers and other dangerous weapons behind Nwafor Orizu College of Education, Nsugbe. According to him, a swift response by a combined Police/Vigilante team led to the arrest of the suspects, while others escaped into nearby bush. He said that during the fracas, one of the suspects, David Chukwuma, sustained machete cuts, adding that he has been provided with medical care and is currently responding to treatment for onward necessary action by the operatives. "The suspects have all confessed to being members of the dreaded “AYES” confraternity. The case is currently under investigation, while efforts are ongoing to apprehend the fleeing cultists," Ikenga said. Meanwhile, the state Commissioner of Police, Ikioye Orutugu has reassured Anambra people that the command remains committed in its fight against cultism and other forms of violent crimes in the state.

By Madu Obi Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State and his wife, Dr. Nonye Soludo, have dismissed as “another fabrication” the apology letter reportedly credited to Senator Uche Ekwunife over her alleged defamatory remarks against them. In a statement signed by the governor's Senior Special Assistant on New Media, Dr Ejimofor Opara, the governor said the apology did not emanate from the former lawmaker and therefore lacked credibility. The statement titled “Sen. Ekwunife’s Purported Apology: Another Fabrication Fit for the Waste Bin,” said the unsigned press release said to have come from the “Ekwunife Campaign Organization” was suspicious, misleading, and inadequate. According to Opara, there is no such campaign body since Ekwunife has a joint ticket with the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the November 8 Anambra election. The statement read in part: “The publication purporting to be an apology for the defamatory statements made against the governor and his wife personally by Senator Ekwunife does not appear to have emanated from the Senator herself, given that her defamatory statements were made directly via recorded video and leaked audio conversation. The so-called apology never referenced Madam Ekwunife’s initial video and audio, but instead focused on an unsigned article. This only points to her complicity, directly or indirectly, as the source of the article. It implies that no genuine apology was intended or tendered. Any contrite apology must follow a personal and direct retraction of her defamatory statements. Slander or libel directly made by an individual cannot be vicariously dismissed by any agent or proxy.” Opara insisted that "any retraction or apology must come directly from Senator Ekwunife, using the same channels through which the offensive remarks were made." Recall that the state's First Lady, Dr. Nonye Soludo, had earlier challenged Senator Ekwunife to clear herself on two issues: first, to swear an oath before the Blessed Sacrament affirming fidelity to her marriage; and second, to subject her children to a DNA test, alongside the Soludos’ own children, to disprove infidelity allegations. Describing the apology as “another unsubstantiated social media gossip,” the Soludo administration said it would proceed as though the document never existed, while still demanding a clear and unambiguous retraction from Senator Ekwunife herself.

By Iheanyi Chukwudi Member representing Enugu North and South Federal Constituency, Hon. Sam Atu, has made a passionate appeal to the Federal and Enugu State Governments to urgently come to the aid of victims of flooding in the state. The Federal Lawmaker who called for the provision of relief materials to victims, disclosed that flood ravaged farmlands, animals and disrupted economic activities within Obeagu axis of Ugwuaji community in Enugu South Local Government and Obinagu axis of Akpugo community in Nkanu West Local Government after the weekend's downpours. The said flood was observed to have damaged part of the Federal power transmission infrastructure; thus, tearing down sections of its perimeter fencing and sparking concerns over the safety and stability of the crucial facility. In a statement released to newsmen in Enugu, on Tuesday, Atu stated that his thoughts and prayers are with victims of last weekend's flood at the boundary between Obeagu Ugwuaji and Akpugo communities. He said, “I sympathise with those who lost their sources of livelihood. I am using this opportunity to call on the Federal Ministries of Works and Humanitarian Affairs to deal with this situation. This incident is becoming a ritual because every year, water will overflow at that point leading to flooding. If the existing bridge is reconstructed, it will help manage this annual disaster.” Collaborating the Lawmaker, a community leader in the area, Chief Uchenna Okafor, stressed that the consequences of the flooding are widespread, adding that commuters who depend on that route had been left stranded. The torrential rains that fell two days earlier, Okafor said, also "devastated farmlands and we are struggling to recover from the shock and destruction. The communities are making urgent appeals to both the Enugu State and Federal Governments for immediate help. Residents are demanding relief materials for injured persons, farmers who lost livestock, and those whose farmlands and livelihoods have been destroyed." A female resident, Mrs Ijeoma Ogbu, said that situation became more worrisome as the flooding struck right at the point where the road construction ends, just by the transmission power plant that provides electricity to the South-East. She added, “Beyond crops, the flood dealt a devastating blow to livestock farmers. About 25 cattle, goats, and sheep belonging to a local herdsman were swept away by the raging waters — a heavy personal and economic loss for the farmer and the wider community.”

By Madu Obi The deputy governorship candidate of All Progressives Congress, APC, for the November 8 Anambra election, Senator Uche Ekwunife, has disowned the statement circulating in her name, in which she surprisingly attacked the wife of the state governor, Dr. Nonye Soludo. In a statement signed by her media adviser, Tony Ezike, Ekwunife categorically denied that the publication emanated from her and apologized for the unnecessary embarrassment. Ezeke's statement read: "The attention of Senator Uche Ekwunife, the Anambra All Progressives Congress (APC) Deputy Governorship Candidate, has been drawn to an article falsely attributed to her camp against Mrs. Nonye Soludo, the wife of the Anambra State Governor. Sen. Uche Ekwunife categorically states that although she has been maligned and disparaged by the Governor's media team, the said publication did not emanate from her or her camp. She further wishes to apologize to the Governor, his wife, and the general public who may have been affected by the altercations of the past few days. Sen. Ekwunife calls on her supporters to remain focused and avoid any media writing that may suggest altercation with the First Family or any other person as she continues with her campaigns".

By Madu Obi The Anambra State House of Assembly has come hard on the Mayor of Onitsha South local government area, Hon. Emeka Orji, ordering him to stay off a private property belonging to an Onitsha businessman, Chief Sabest Uzoeto, Chairman of the House Committee on Public Petitions, Hon. Obi Nweke, while briefing journalists at the House of Assembly complex, said a petition was brought before the House by Chief Uzoeto, who alleged that his property at No. 39 Silas Works Road, Fegge, Onitsha, was forcefully taken over by Onitsha South council boss. The lawmaker said the House, in line with its constitutional powers under Sections 128 and 129 of the 1999 Constitution, invited both parties, investigated the matter, and sought clarification from the Ministry of Lands, where the ministry confirmed that the property in question legally belongs to Chief Uzoeto. Hon. Nweke noted that the committee was satisfied that the case was not sub judice as it was not before any court in Nigeria and had never been litigated in the past and therefore indicted the mayor for acting beyond his powers. According to Nweke, Onitsha South Mayor has no powers to acquire anybody’s land, adding that only the governor can do that for overriding public interest, and therefore described the action of the local government chairman as illegal and unacceptable. The lawmaker frowned at media reports where the Onitsha South chairman allegedly claimed that the matter was in court and that the property belonged to him, describing it as an attempt to undermine the integrity of the Assembly which ordered him to stay clear. The House Committee had recommended that the Onitsha South Mayor should immediately stay off the property, compensate Chief Uzoeto for the items destroyed during the demolition, and desist from usurping the constitutional powers of the governor.

By Madu Obi Awka- The Anambra State Executive Council has approved several contracts worth N43,636,992,491 billion for key infrastructure projects in parts of the state aimed at improving the lives of its citizens. The projects include the dualization of the Ekwulobia-Ufuma Road, with a bridge, at a cost of N37.95 billion to Lebtech Construction Ltd, which government said, is a significant infrastructure development that will enhance connectivity and facilitate economic growth in the state and the construction of Adili/Park Road with a spur to the Building Materials Market, Nnewi, awarded to Ferrotex Construction Company in the sum of ₦1,402,534,336.19 Also awarded were the construction of School Road with interlocking pavement stones at Iyiowa Odekpe, Ogbaru local government area to Roadways Nig Ltd in the sum of ₦2,230,572,295.45, external works of the VIP Lounge at the Chinua Achebe International Airport Umueri, in the sum of N172,000,000.00 in favour of Gill Associates Ltd, supply and Installation of furniture for the VIP Lounge awarded to Gold Coast Shelters Ltd in the sum of N157,734,052.10 at the Chinua Achebe International Airport Others are for the rehabilitation and asphaltic overlay of the internal premises of the Anambra State Civil Service Commission, Awka in the sum of N147,000,000.00; marking of stop lines, pedestrian crosswalks and yellow box traps on all traffic light junctions across the state, at a cost of N124,919,762.28 to Navigator Sign Ltd, contracts in the sum of N927,048,040.67 for the construction of the playground, volleyball & tennis courts, external works and other associated structures at the Ekwulobia Stadium Complex, to M.O. & C Int’l Ltd. The rest are the supply & installation of medical equipment at the General Hospital, Enugwu-Otu Aguleri, at the cost Of N346,563,000.00 to Minek Multi-Care Nig Ltd and construction of two suspended floors six classroom blocks at Awada Secondary School, Obosi, Idemili North local government area at the sum of ₦174,354,681.74 in favour of Conifer Kunstruction (Nig) Ltd. Commissioner for Information, Dr Law Mefor said after the state's weekly executive council meeting, that the projects are expected to boost the state's infrastructure, improve the quality of life for the citizens, and attract investments to the state. He stated that new projects will continue to be awarded based on their strategic and economic significance, and on areas with the highest needs. Mefor added that no new projects would be initiated for the sake of the election season, as was the custom in the past, adding that government has pledged not to owe contractors in line with the prevailing principle of the Prof. Chukwuma Charles Soludo administration.

By Madu Obi The governorship candidate of Young Progressives Party, YPP, for the November 8 Anambra election, Sir Paul Chukwuma has promised to return the state to the people if he wins the election. Chukwuma, who spoke during a media briefing at Umueri, Anambra East local government area of the state, expressed happiness that the people are embracing his message to bring back joy in all parts of Anambra State. "I am excited with the organic support I'm getting in the field across the 21 local government areas. Anambra people are tired of the primordial zoning and by the special grace of God, I will return the state to the people by ensuring that the local government system works well. "I will not associate myself with anything illegal and undemocratic as governor of Anambra State. I intend to preside over Anambra relying on clear principles of rule of law. I intend to allow the different arms of government to enjoy the independence that the constitution has provided for each of them", he stated. The YPP candidate vowed that to give various arms of government their independence saying, "I don't want to have a legislature that will be in my pocket. I want them to know that they were elected by their constituents who expect to get dividends of democracy from them. I will not only support that, I will champion their independence. I will also ensure that the local government autonomy is sacrosanct and I will not interfere in their activities in terms of funding and provision of dividends of democracy to the grassroots. I will make sure that the security vote made available to the governor will be deployed to ensure that Anambra is safe", he said. He also spoke on the recent clash between some traders and operatives of OCHA Brigade in the commercial city of Onitsha, explaining why he had to visit the scene on the day of the incident.. "When I heard it, I became interested because I want to liberate our state and I had no option than to go to the scene. I felt it was appropriate for us to calm nerves in the face of the altercations. That's why I had to go there to assess things for myself. When we got there, the people briefed us on what happened. I addressed them and urged them not to take laws into their hands and that they should go about their businesses. I also urged them to ensure that such a thing will never happen again and reminded them that it is our responsibility to hold government accountable." Chukwuma added that before he left the market, he was told that those wounded had been taken to the General Hospital, adding that he went to the hospital to see how he could be of help. "As your governor, I will not encourage the use of illegal persons for the purpose of generating revenue. For payment of tax, I will deploy available technology to ensure that taxes are properly collected. I won't engage in mudslinging in any form. I will be open and transparent and take responsibility for any action of government because the buck stops on my table. My aspiration is to serve Anambra people as their governor and we're supposed to be a society governed by the rule of law", he concluded.

By Iheanyi Chukwudi Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign state of Biafra (MASSOB) has said that continuation of the self determination struggle for actualization and restoration of the Sovereign State of Biafra through the principals of non violence is sacrosanct. MASSOB which turned 24 at the weekend following its formation in September 13, 1999, restated the group's noble commitment liberation of Biafra land. Using the anniversary to remember those it said their lives were cut shot because of Biafra in the hands of Nigeria security agents, the group said, "Our non violence MASSOB members died innocently with brave heart for the Biafra cause, they were molested, mesmerized, humiliated, brutally killed by the armed security agents of our oppressors. Today, we the remnants of MASSOB activist also remembers the parents of our fallen heroes, some are still traumatized, some are dead because of shock while others are living ghost of themselves." In a statement to mark the 24th anniversary, MASSOB Leader, Comrade Uchenna Madu, said, "We are committed, consistently and uncompromisingly agitating for an independent state of Biafra from Nigeria. "Biafra is the answer to the numerous subjective slavery, Nigeria subjected Ndi Igbo into, ranging from political, economical, academic, religious, cultural and social slavery. 'Today in Nigeria, true nationhood has remained stillborn. Peace, justice and equity has remained elusive to Nigeria which still remains in perpetual strife and increasing crises since her independence. These undeniable realities are the reasons the Nigerian State is afraid of Biafra which represents the truth they can not legitimately counter. "Biafra speaks of the truth Nigeria know they are guilty of, so out of weakness, jittery and fear, Nigeria resort to repressions, persecutions, killings and detention of Biafran agitators." He therefore revealed that "MASSOB has resolved that 24 years of our long walk to freedom can never be jeopardized, compromised or corrupted. "MASSOB shall never relent in our non violence Biafra struggle because the truth shall always prevail over falsehood."

By Madu Obi The governorship candidate of the Young Progressives Party, YPP, Sit Paul Chukwuma, has promised to restore security in the troubled Ihiala local government area if he becomes governor after the November 8 election. Addressing the people of Ihiala during a campaign tour of the area, Chukwuma said the entire area has been abandoned by the state government, lamenting that the people have been left at the mercy of criminals who have disrupted life in different parts of the local government in the last three years. The YPP candidate had earlier visited some of the troubled areas in the local government, during which he said that full compliments of security would be restored. "Ihiala is an important LGA to Anambra State. Therefore, our first point of call after my swearing-in come March 2026, by the grace of God, will be to restore security in Ihiala and other parts of Anambra State", he said. The deputy governorship candidate of the party, Uzu Okagbue, has also as part of consultations, visited the traditional ruler of Mbaukwu in Awka South local government area, Igwe Peter Anukwu, who he described as a foster father of the past two decades: "My bond with Igwe is more than filial; it is steeped in history and culture. He shared a profound friendship with my late father, Chike Okagbue (Ezennia), and in continuity of that legacy, he has remained a fountain of fatherly guidance to me and my family. To sit with him is to sit with living history, for Igwe is not only a custodian of tradition but a vast encyclopaedia of Igbo culture, memory, philosophy and honest wealth creation. Every encounter with him is both educative and inspiring, drawing me deeper into the richness of our heritage. Ezeukwu is a monarch whose reign now spans over half a century, stands as a testimony to resilience, wisdom, and divine mandate. His throne today commands the reverence of generations, as younger traditional rulers attend his annual Ofala and Igu Aro festival, seeking from him the timeless fountain of leadership, tradition, and spiritual authority that cannot be overstated", Okagbue said.

By Madu Obi Operatives of the Special Anti-Cult Squad (SPACS), in Anambra State, have arrested a suspect carrying Indian hemp whose street value was put at over N15m. The operatives were said to be on aggressive manhunt/patrol for cultists, when they caught the suspect, Chiderah Obochi, aged 25, at Ifitedunu, Dunukofia local government area, along the Old Onitsha/Awka Road. The state Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, SP Tochukwu Ikenga said Obochi was on a motorcycle and when he was searched, some quantities of dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp were recovered from him. According to Ikenga, upon interrogation, he confessed to being a drug runner in Umudioka Village, Dunukofia LGA. "He thereafter led the team to the house of the one Ginika Okeke in Umudioka Village, but the suspect was not met at home. However, 11 bags containing a very large quantity of dried leaves suspected to be Cannabis Sativa (Indian Hemp) were recovered from the house", he said. The PPRO said that the recovered hard substances will be handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for further necessary action. He also said that the command is working on credible intelligence to identify and apprehend drug dealers supplying the harmful substances. In another development, the PPRO said that in the late hours of 14th September, 2025, the police raided a suspected black spot at Ogidi, Idemili North LGA, following credible intelligence that cultists routinely gathered at the location to perfect plans for their nefarious activities. He said that during the operation, 53 suspects, comprising 38 males and 15 females, were arrested, noting that they are currently undergoing screening and profiling, after which those found culpable will be charged to Court. He assured that the command is committed to restoring sanity, protecting lives and property, and ensuring that the state remains safe for all law-abiding residents.

By Madu Obi The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, for Anambra State, Dr Queen Elizabeth Agwu, has stoutly defended the electoral umpire in managing the electoral process, stressing that INEC does not have the capacity to rig election. Speaking as a special guest during stakeholders engagement and sensitization workshop on Mandate Protection ahead of the November 8 Anambra governorship election, Agwu accused politicians of always trying to manipulate the system and when they fail, they blame INEC for allegedly rigging them out. The workshop was organized by the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room, in partnership with Center for Democracy and Development, CDD, and support from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO. Agwu said: "INEC is just a small item in the big electoral process and election management. The Police, Army, Nigeria Civil Defense, Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, etc, are all there. We have returning officers for the state, the 21 local governments, 326 wards and in all the polling booths In Anambra State. These are adhoc workers. On the election day, you won't see any INEC official outside We see the result sheet only once and that is when all the results from all the locations have been entered. The results move from Presiding Officers, POs, to Senior Presiding Officers,SPOs, and they are announced at all the levels. Is there anybody who does not know that money exchanges hands during elections and this is instigated by politicians? And when someone loses the election, he begins to shout that INEC has done it again. We're destroying ourselves in the name of name of politics." She also faulted the figures contained in the voters register, stating that in the past, voters registration was not properly conducted such that people were just dumping names in the register, thinking they could somehow use them during elections. According to her, many names in the voters register do not exist and that is why the percentage of voter turnout has remained low. She also said that those who sit somewhere to write results are wasting their time because such results can never find their way into the authentic results sheets. In his address, the election consultant of CDD, Mr. Chibuike Mgbeahurike, said it is embarrassing that many stakeholders are not participating effectively in the electoral process, which, he added, is why there is so much anomaly in the system. He said: "I don't know the last time we were served with credible election in this country. Look at what is happening in Anambra State, instead of the politicians to tell the people how they intend to serve them, they are busy attacking each other. Even the voters are saying that they will not vote unless they are paid and that is because the politicians have not sensitized the electorate adequately. Many politicians are more concerned with how to circumvent the system and our people are made to swallow whatever comes out from them. Our political enlightenment is at its lowest ebb and it is lack of enlightenment that leads to low turnout during elections. We have to keep voting until we get it right." While urging the politicians to take the campaigns to the grassroot, Mgbeahurike advised that they should deviate from their past attitudes. "Mandate Protection should no be business as usual. If we cannot beat them, let us not join them. They say, if you see something, say something, but unfortunately, our people are not saying anything." The workshop discussed electoral security and safety measures,voter authentication and verification, prevention and detection of electoral malpractices, transparency and monitoring of election success, among other issues.