HURRICANE NEWS.

  * Name-Dropping and the Aguata Federal Constituency House of Representatives Race * As the countdown to the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) primaries gathers momentum, the political landscape in Aguata Federal Constituency is becoming clearer—and, in some respects, more revealing. A noticeable trend by one of the aspirants is the increasing resort to “name-dropping,” particularly claims of closeness to, or endorsement by, the party’s national leadership. While access to party leaders may be a natural by-product of holding public office, it should not be misconstrued as a substitute for _anointing, blessing or endorsing_ an aspirant . The incumbent member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Engr. Dominic Okafor, by virtue of his office, maintains official channels of engagement with the Governor, Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo, OFR (Oluatuegwu), and the party’s national leadership, including the National Chairman, Barr. Sly Okenwa. Similarly, Hon. Chibueze Ofobuike, as...

  * Unveiling the veiled: How Inordinate Ambition Cost Aguata South the Chairmanship of Aguata Local Government* Aguata Local Government Area has long enjoyed its own fair share of peace and tranquility in the selection of its Chairman. This harmony has been anchored on an unwritten gentleman's agreement between Aguata North and Aguata South. The arrangement is simple: One zone occupies the Chairmanship position for eight years, after which it rotates to the other zone for the same duration. In the build-up to the 2027 general elections, this longstanding tradition of fairness that characterised the practice has been subtly and tactically subverted. This disruption is widely attributed to the maverick manoeuvrings of Chibueze Ofobuike (the incumbent Chairman of the Local Government Area), actions which ultimately cost Aguata South the opportunity to complete its eight-year tenure as Local Government Chairman. His Excellency, Mr. Governor, Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo, OFR (Ol...

RULAAC Lauds NBA NEC for Condemning Misuse of Criminal Process in Civil and Defamation Matters The Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC) strongly commends the National Executive Council (NEC) of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) for its principled and timely resolution condemning the growing misuse of criminal law enforcement mechanisms in matters that are fundamentally civil in nature, particularly disputes relating to defamation and reputational injury. RULAAC which aligns with the position adopted by the NBA NEC at its meeting held on 7 May 2026 in Awka, Anambra State, especially its concerns over the increasing deployment of police powers to arrest, detain, intimidate, and prosecute individuals in cases that ought to be addressed through lawful civil remedies. In a statement signed by Okechukwu Nwanguma the Executive Director of RULAAC, said a reported arrests linked to a viral social media publication concerning businessman Tony Elumelu once again highlight a tr...

  A Servant Leader Goes Home: A Tribute to Charles C. Ifeanyi (1934-2026) By C. Don Adinuba   It says a lot about the kind person Chief Charles C. Ifeanyi was that when he retired as the second or third person in the hierarchy of the entire Nigerian Customs Service, he had no house anywhere in the world. Most Nigerians would find this fact extremely difficult to accept because ours is what social scientists call a low-trust society, or a society with a very low stock of values like integrity, honour, loyalty, and trust. When we, however, remember that General Yakubu Gowon was our Head of State for nine years until he was overthrown in a military coup in 1975 and yet he had no house anywhere, or that Dr. Michael Okpara was the Eastern Region Premier from 1960 to 1966 but had nowhere to call his own house till 1983 when friends contributed money to build one for him in his village in today’s Abia State, you would begin to understand that Chief Ifeanyi was one of the few truly ex...

  Umahi Opens Completed Sections of N350 Billion Enugu–Onitsha Road for Easter celebration. NKIRU NWAGBO  The completed sections of the N350 billion Enugu - Onitsha express way was this Thursday opened for road users by the Minister for Works Engr Dave Umahi ahead of the Easter season. Speaking at the event, Umahi recalled the deplorable condition of the road prior to the current administration, noting that commuters previously spent over seven hours traveling between Enugu and Onitsha due to years of neglect and stalled construction. “This is the most important route in the Southeast,” the minister said, stressing that the project had been awarded long before 2023 but remained largely abandoned for about eight years with little or no meaningful progress. According to him, the road was initially being handled under a tax credit arrangement involving MTN and construction giant RCC. However, he said the project suffered delays until the intervention of President Bola Tinubu, who...

  Soludo congratulates and commiserates with newly formed Anambra Exco  NKIRU NWAGBO,  25/03/2026 Governor Charles Soludo of Anambra state yesterday congratulated and commiserated the newly appointed members of his Executive Council saying that Solution 2.0 is not a tea party. It would be recalled that 14 persons were appointed into respective portfolios which saw the emergence of the first female Secretary to the State Government SSG of Anambra state Mrs Chiamaka Nnake as well as a new Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General of the state . Soludo also announced that before the end of this week more appointments would be made to complete the list of his cabinet members. The State House of Assembly had yesterday approved the governor's appointment of 16 Special Advisers and also approved the appointment of two Commissioners who were sworn in this Wednesday. Addressing the appointees shortly after they had been sworn in Soludo said ;  "I welcome you to the Soluti...

  BARR. TOBECHUKWU NWEKE, SAN*ATTORNEY-GENERAL OF THE STATE GOVERNOR SOLUDO APPOINTS KEY STATE OFFICIALS AND SPECIAL ADVISERS* Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, CFR, has approved fresh appointment of key officials to serve in various capacities within the State Government. The names and positions are as follows: *1) BARR (MRS) NGOZI IWOUNO* HEAD OF SERVICE 2) BARR JOACHIN PETERS ANETOH* PRINCIPAL SECRETARY TO THE GOVERNOR (PS) 3) DR. BEN NWANKWO* CHIEF OF STAFF TO THE GOVERNOR (COS) *4) PROF. FRANK-COLLINS OKAFOR* STATE CHIEF OF PROTOCOL (SCOP) *5) BARR. TOBECHUKWU NWEKE, SAN* ATTORNEY-GENERAL OF THE STATE 6) MR. CHRISTIAN ABURIME* CHIEF PRESS SECRETARY (CPS) *7) DR. VINCENT EGBUNA OKECHI* DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF (DCOS) 8) MS NGOZI LUCY OKOYE*DEPUTY STATE CHIEF OF PROTOCOL (DSCOP) *9) DR. GODWIN NNADOZIE* SPECIAL ADVISER-MEDICALS AND PHARMACEUTICALS *10) MS CHINWE OKOLI* SPECIAL ADVISER-INNOVATION AND BUSINESS INCUBATION & CEO, SOLUTION INNOVATION DISTRICT *11) PROF. (ENGR) EBUKA...

  New Anambra SSG  Soludo Finally Dissolves Cabinet Appoints New SSG Issues Commendation letters To Ex- Appointees  NKIRU NWAGBO  Governor Charles Soludo of Anambra today Monday broke his prolonged silence over the fate of his appointees when in a final meeting announced the official dissolution of his Cabinet. Giving clues to his possible new executive council members, the former Secretary to the State Government (  SSG ) Professor Solo Chukwulobelu has been dropped after serving former governor Willie Obiano and four years under Soludo. In his place the former Commissioner for Budge And Economic Planning Mrs Chiamaka Nnake was appointed as the new Secretary to the State Government. According to a statement by the Press Secretary to Soludo Mr Christian Aburime; "Anambra State Governor,  Prof Chukwuma Charles Soludo, CFR has approved the appointment of Mrs Chiamaka Nnake as the new Secretary to the State Government of Anambra State " "Chiamaka Nnake, MBA, F...

  NASS; Anambra North Coalition Endorses Prince John Emeka. Political parties in Anambra North Senatorial District  under the umbrella of Anambra North Coalition has endorsed the   former Minister for Transport Prince John Emeka for the 2027 senatorial election. The coalition also passed a vote of no confidence on past and present lawmakers in the area accusing them of totally disconnected from the masses . According to the Spokesperson of the Coalition  Mrs Chioma Okwuoda  who spoke to reporters in Onitsha on Saturday, the District has never experienced any deliberate and purposeful representation in the past and present hence demanding for a change in the stewardship of the area. "We challenge those that had been there and those currently there to show proof of what they have attracted or have been able to attract to our Senatorial District" "During the perennial flooding in Anambra North , most farmers suffered and lost their farms and no effo...

  2027: Igbos need not waste their votes says Soludo, As VP Shettima congratulates Anambra  NKIRU NWAGBO, AWKA 17/03/26.   Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State has urged the Igbos of the South -East extraction not to waste their votes in the coming 2027 General election as they need to vote wisely in the interest of the area. Soludo who disclosed this at his his second term  inauguration  speech stated that the  Igbos of the five states of the South East needs healing contending that the agitations of a President from the extraction may not be the panacea for it's perceived emancipation. This is coming as Vice President Kashim Shettima who came in the company of former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Good luck Jonathan  congratulated the people of Anambra state for reelecting Soludo as governor for the next four years. Shettima noted that Nigerians already know the pedigree of the governor before his election for the first term in office ...

  NIgeria Cannot Development By Ethnic Or Religious Colorations  Says Soludo  NKIRU NWAGBO  Governor Charles Soludo of Anambra state has stated that NIgeria as a country cannot develope through ethnic or religious colorations rather through the values and capacities that it's citizenry brings to the table. Soludo who made this remark at the interdenominational service marking the end of his first term in office at the International Conference Center ICC Awka in Anambra state. According to him ;  "We cannot develop this nation or Anambra state by seeing each other by the way we worship but by the values  we  bring to the state or country"  "In my administration what I want is the capacity to deliver and to work irrespective of your denomination or your state of origin or your tribe and you can see that we have an Accountant General from Abia state and countless appointees when are not from Anambra state" "Even the employment of over 1,800 teachers ...

  WRAP Project: CosPAL And ElectHer Sign MOU To Launch Project . BY NKIRU NWAGBO. The Conference of Speakers and Presidents of African Legislatures (CosPAL) and ElectHer have officially signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to launch the Women's Representation in African Parliaments(WRAP) project. In a statement signed by Joy Agashua the program manager stated that the is strategic continental initiative which according to her is designed to advance women's leadership and institutionalize gender responsive governance across African Legislatures. According to the Program manager " The agreement marks a significant milestone in strengthening inclusive parliamentary leadership across the continent. " By leveraging CosPAL 's  convening capacity among African parliamentary leaders and  ElectHer 's technical expertise in gender responsive governance, and institutional reform, WRAP will provide a structured, data-driven and sustainable framework to enhance women...

Sen Anosike Emerges Anambra APC Chairman  Nkiru Nwagbo . The former Senator ,  Anambra North District Chief Emmanuel Obiajulu Anosike was on Tuesday elected the Chairman of Anambra state chapter of the All Progressives Congress ( APC). Anosike who emerged through a consensus  also has as his Vice Chairman Chief J.C Okeke while Chief Obi Okpala emerged as the Secretary of the party . Declaring the outcome of the state Congress  , the Chairman Anambra Congress Committee and Returning Officer of the election Real Admiral William Kayode (rtd ) explained that in line with Article 20 and 14 of the Constitution of the APC which stipulates the use of consensus in the election of it's officers, Sen Emma Anosike and other elected members of his Executive Committee are duly elected . "I Real Admiral William Kayode as the Chairman of the Congress Committee and Returning Officer for Anambra state chapter of the APC here by affirm that the Congress was free , fair and credible and...

  RULAAC: * OPEN LETTER TO THE IMO STATE POLICE COMMAND*  March 1, 2026  *Save Our Students and Young People from Police Predatory Practices*  The Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre Rulaac (RULAAC) writes with deep concern over renewed reports of harassment, arbitrary arrests, and extortion of students and young people in Imo State, particularly around the vicinity of Federal Polytechnic Nekede, Owerri. Last Friday, while attending a burial in Mbaise, our Executive Director later visited a relaxation spot within the Nekede Polytechnic axis. What should have been a calm evening quickly turned into chaos as young boys and girls ran helter-skelter following the arrival of police officers reportedly conducting what has now become a “routine” operation - targeting students for arrest and search. Students who spoke with us described a disturbing pattern: random stop-and-search operations; intrusive searches of handbags belonging to female students; unlawful ins...

  Oke-Ite; Akwa - Okuko Sentenced To 11 Months Imprisonment, Shrine To Be Destroyed. NKIRU NWAGBO   The Anambra High Court sitting at Awka this friday sentenced Mr Chigozie Nwangwu aka (Akwa- Okuko Tiwalu Aku ) to eleven months improvement. Recall that about thirteen months ago , Nwangwu was arrested on the account of alleged operation of Oke- Ite Ritual practices and misleading the public about money making . Out of the ten count charges against him , the presiding Judge;  Hon Justice Jude Obiora struck out six count charges while it upheld four of the charges . The Court further waved the total of six years imprisonment and option of N60 Million Optional Fine which should have ran concurrently. The presiding Judge had also stated the earlier motion for pleabargain which the Court admitted in evidence which prompted the Court to reduce the earlier six years imprisonment to two years. According to Justice Jude Obiora however, the convict had been in an awaiting trail...

  RULAAC Urges IGP To Release Alleged  Awkuzu Extrajudicial Killings Report NKIRU NWAGBO. The Rule of law and Accountability Advocacy Center (RULAAC) has urges the office of Inspector General of Police  Tunji Disu to publicly disclose the investigation report on Rapid Response Squad/ Anti -Kidnapping Unit , Awkuzu Anambra State 2023 and related allegations. It would be recalled that the special investigation  Panel was constituted in February 2023 to examine the allegations against officers of the said unit . In a statement signed by the Executive Director RULAAC Okechukwu Nwanguma, said despite sustained public interest and repeated inquiries by civil society organizations the report has not been published. The Executive Director RULAAC said that , on 17th February 2023 the then Inspector General of Police  established panel under the IGP Monitoring and Mentoring Unit to investigate the allegations to include  extrajudicial killings, high handedness, Organ...

  Young, Grassroots Candidates Shake Up Anambra Local Polls NKIRU NWAGBO  Anambra State is heating up for local government elections under Governor Chukwuma Soludo's APGA government.  Two fresh faces have stepped forward, showing a new wave of young, community-focused leaders. Nze Odera Ezenwafor, a culture champion running for chairman in Idemili South LGA, and Nnonyelu Christian Chinaza, a top entrepreneur eyeing Ayamelum LGA, both fly APGA colours.  They mix Igbo roots, fresh ideas, and support for Soludo's reforms, tackling issues like fair zoning, culture protection, and job creation. Ezenwafor launched his bid at a ward meeting in Idemili South, speaking with humility about answering a "call to serve," not chasing power. He quoted American mayor Mitch Landrieu and Nigeria's Obasanjo to push for zoning rotation – a big talk point in Anambra's divided politics.  His plan, "Empowerment – Consolidation – Entertainment & Cultural Revival," focus...

Anambra Markets , Banks , Schools open on monday  as zero attacks recorded   NKIRU NWAGBO, AWKA 02/02/26 After more than five years , Anambra state has finally put an end to the Monday sit at home order by the Indigenous People Of Biafra (IPOB) as markets , schools and banks were opened . Recall that IPOB had insisted that the sit at home order must be obeyed despite the order by Governor Charles Soludo that normal activities must hold warning that institutions that failed to comply to this directive would face the wrath of the law . Soludo had last Monday shut down the Onitsha main market on the account of the traders not opening for business.  The markets,  especially the Onitsha main market were  open as well as the banks and schools as against the apprehension that the separatists group would unleash mayhem on defaulters. At the Onitsha main market all the shops were open while security operatives which is a combine team of the eight Service Commanders made ...

  Gov Soludo Meets With Markets and Line Leaders, Vows To Rejig Market Security  NKIRU NWAGBO  In a move to restore the economic pulse of Anambra State, Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo has declared that all markets and shops across the state must remain open every working day, including Mondays. The Governor made this mandate during an intensive interactive session with market leaders from across the state. The meeting held in Awka, was sparked by the recent closure of the Onitsha Main Market and a growing long stay over the Monday sit-at-home syndrome that has crippled commence in the Southeast for years. Addressing the traders of Onitsha Main Market specifically, Governor Soludo presented a "renovate or rebuild" ultimatum. He offered two paths forward: leveling the existing structures to build a completely new, world-class trading hub, or undergoing a massive modernization project. Regardless of the choice, the Governor emphasized that the era of Monday closures is ove...