Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Charles Soludo, has sworn in the newly elected chairmen of the state’s 21 local government areas and their deputies, charging them to treat their positions as a call to service and remain accountable to the people.
The inauguration took place on Saturday, October 3, 2026, at the Light House, Awka, where Soludo told the new council leaders that the responsibilities attached to their offices had begun immediately. He urged them toi make service delivery, transparency and responsible management of public resources central to their administration.
Addressing the chairmen during the ceremony, the governor said their election should not be viewed simply as an achievement but as a responsibility to millions of residents across Anambra. He congratulated them while also warning that public office carried a significant burden.
Soludo told the officials that the “clock starts ticking today” and that “the work has already begun”, stressing that they would be required to account for their time in office. He said even the minutes spent during the inauguration were already part of their official responsibilities, reinforcing his demand that the new administrations should remain focused on results.
The governor also asked the chairmen to take their oath of office seriously, review it regularly and, where possible, display it in their offices as a constant reminder of the obligations they had accepted. He said the oath should guide their decisions and help keep their attention on the public interest throughout their tenure.
Soludo further urged the council leaders to work within existing laws, administrative procedures and government processes. While encouraging them to introduce new ideas and pursue innovation, he stressed that such initiatives must remain within the boundaries of the law.
He also directed the chairmen to examine the handover documents left by their predecessors, paying particular attention to assets and liabilities inherited by the new administrations. The governor said the exercise was necessary to give the incoming councils a clear understanding of their starting position and the challenges awaiting them.
Another issue raised by Soludo was the sustainability of local government administration. He pointed to provisions in the state’s newer local government laws that allow councils to pool resources for common financial obligations. According to him, such mechanisms could help the councils manage shared responsibilities more efficiently and strengthen the grassroots system.
The governor also urged the chairmen to embrace the principle of collective responsibility reflected in the All Progressives Grand Alliance motto, “Be your brother’s and sister’s keeper.” He said government would only be effective if it remained inclusive and attentive to people across communities.
The inauguration followed the local government election held on August 29, 2026, with the results formally declared the following day. The ruling APGA secured all 21 chairmanship positions, extending its political control across the state’s local government councils.
Reports on the election indicated that APGA faced little competition in most of the council areas. In 20 of the 21 local government areas, APGA was the only party that fielded a chairmanship candidate, while the Young Progressives Party contested in Anambra East. APGA’s candidate, Ifeanyi Chinweze, won that contest with 50,169 votes against the YPP candidate’s 1,658 votes.
The new chairmen include Kingsley Ezeagu in Aguata, Ifeanyi Chinweze in Anambra East, Tony Obierika in Anambra West, Paulinus Okafor in Anaocha, ThankGod Anago in Awka North and Chinedu Okafor in Awka South. Other newly sworn-in council leaders are Mgbechi Igwebuike of Ayamelum, Clement Ozumba of Dunukofia, Ifeanyi Onuchukwu of Ekwusigo, Stanley Nkwoka of Idemili North, Oluchukwu Ilogbenam of Idemili South, Anayo Orjiakor of Ihiala and Ikechukwu Okakpu of Njikoka.
The remaining chairmen are Echezona Anazodo of Nnewi North, Chinedu Ezeogidi of Nnewi South, Nnamdi Ifejika of Ogbaru, Chukwuemelie Ibekwe of Onitsha North, Okechukwu Mofunanya of Onitsha South, Casmir Nwafor of Orumba North, Shedrack Azubuike of Orumba South and Igbem Elochukwu of Oyi.
At the grassroots, residents will now look to the councils for practical improvements in local governance.
The oath of office was administered by Anambra State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Tochukwu Nweke, SAN. The ceremony was attended by senior state government officials, including Deputy Governor Onyekachukwu Ibezim and Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Community Affairs, Ifeanyichukwu Ezeaka.
For the returning and newly elected officials alike, the governor’s message was that continuity should not mean complacency. Soludo reminded them that previous administrations had contributed to building the structures they were inheriting and urged them to leave those structures stronger for whoever would take over from them.
The emphasis on accountability comes as local governments remain a key level of government for delivering services directly to communities. Council administrations are responsible for a range of grassroots functions and are often the level of government residents encounter most directly.
By directing the new chairmen to study their handover documents and account for inherited assets and liabilities, Soludo placed financial and administrative records at the centre of the new councils’ immediate responsibilities. His instruction also signals that the incoming administrations are expected to understand their obligations before embarking on new commitments.
Speaking on behalf of the newly sworn-in chairmen, Anaocha Local Government Chairman Paulinus Okafor and his Idemili North counterpart, Stanley Nkwoka, pledged to deliver on the mandate given to them by the electorate. Their commitment came as the governor challenged all 21 council administrations to translate their electoral victories into measurable service for residents.
For Soludo, the inauguration was therefore not simply a ceremonial transfer of authority. It was the formal beginning of a new accountability period for Anambra’s 21 local government administrations, with the governor making clear that the officials would be expected to account for both the resources entrusted to them and the time available to deliver results.
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