# Senator Lilian Uche Ekwunife, the APC senatorial candidate for Anambra Central Senatorial District, has urged the people of Anambra State to vote for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 general elections.
Ekwunife said she and other APC stakeholders in Anambra were committed to securing the re-election of President Tinubu, as well as victory for herself and other candidates of the party in the state.
She spoke at a one-day Anambra Central stakeholders’ meeting with local government and ward officials of the APC from the zone, held at the Senator Uche Ekwunife Event Centre in Awka.
Ekwunife, who is also the South-East Zonal Director of the APC Presidential Campaign Council for President Tinubu’s re-election, said Anambra was determined to ensure the victory of the APC at all levels in the 2027 elections.
# The Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice of Anambra State, Tobechukwu Nweke, SAN, has urged persons standing trial to take advantage of plea bargaining where they are satisfied that they are guilty of the offences for which they are charged.
Barrister Nweke cited the case of popular native doctor, Chidozie Nwangwu, popularly known as “Akwa Okuko tiwara aki,” as an example of the potential benefits of plea bargaining.
He explained that following a plea bargain agreement between Nwangwu and the Anambra State Government, the court imposed a lesser sentence on him.
According to the Attorney-General, the remorse demonstrated by Nwangwu, coupled with the short period remaining on his sentence, among other considerations, provided an opportunity for Governor Chukwuma Soludo to consider him for the prerogative of mercy.
Governor Soludo subsequently granted Nwangwu early release from the correctional centre by remitting the unserved portion of his prison term.
Nweke said the decision also enabled Nwangwu to immediately join the State Government’s campaign on youth reformation and reorientation, as agreed under the plea bargain arrangement.
The Attorney-General described the governor’s exercise of the prerogative of mercy as a remote benefit of the plea bargain, noting that the agreement had indirectly paved the way for the subsequent consideration of Nwangwu for early release.
He explained that plea bargaining could, in appropriate cases, result in non-custodial sentences for convicted persons, while those who receive custodial sentences could have their terms reduced.
He added that plea bargain arrangements could also provide for restitution or compensation to victims of offences.
Nweke said the Anambra State Government, under the administration of Prof. Chukwuma Charles Soludo, remained committed to decongesting correctional centres and was mainstreaming plea bargaining as a tool for keeping more people out of custody where the circumstances of their cases permit.
The Attorney-General disclosed that since the Ministry of Justice launched its campaign on plea bargaining about two months ago, it had received approximately 150 applications, which were currently being considered.
# Speakers of the five South-East State Houses of Assembly have resolved to work collectively to address the security challenges confronting the region.
The Speakers said sustainable security in the South-East requires not only effective policing, but also good governance, economic opportunities, justice and strong institutions.
They reached the resolution at their conference held in Awka, which was contained in a communique jointly signed by the attending speakers.
During the conference, they considered the security situation in the region and other issues affecting the South-East.
The Speakers also commended the five South-East Governors for their unprecedented developmental strides in their respective states, pledging continued legislative partnership with the governors in promoting good governance.
The conference further resolved that the five State Houses of Assembly would sustain collaboration in legislation to achieve the standardization of procedures and uniformity of best practices across the zone.
The conference was held under the theme: “Legislative Review and Standardization of Procedures Across South-East States: The Need to Redefine a Better Relationship.”
# Members of the Onitsha Beer Dealers Market Association have staged a peaceful protest, calling on Anambra State Governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, to intervene over alleged harassment, intimidation and extortion by one Ifeanyi Franklin Okeke, whom they accused of forcefully taking over the market.
Speaking during the protest at the market, the association’s leader, Chief Augustus Nnabuife, said the land on which the market, also known as Nwugo Beer Market, is situated was acquired from the Anambra State Government in 1988.
According to him, the traders were issued receipts and Certificates of Occupancy (C of O), following which they developed the market and moved into the premises in 1998 after it was commissioned by the then Military Administrator of Anambra State, Wing Commander Emmanuel Uwakwe Ukaegbu.
Nnabuife further stated that the Onitsha South Local Government Area subsequently issued allocation papers to individual shop owners in the market, adding that the traders had remained law-abiding and paid government taxes and levies over the years.
He alleged that the situation changed in August 2026 when Okeke, accompanied by his lawyer, entered the market and informed the traders that he had become the new owner after allegedly purchasing the property from the government.
Nnabuife alleged that Okeke subsequently began collecting a daily levy of N1,000 from each of the more than 1,000 shops in the market, allegedly with the assistance of armed security personnel.
He also alleged that the market’s name was changed from Nwugo Beer Market to Ihioma Beer Market, which he said was purportedly derived from Okeke’s village name.
According to him, the traders were also informed that they would henceforth pay a monthly security levy of N20,000 per shop, as against the N1,200 they previously paid.
Nnabuife further alleged that on Saturday, July 19, 2026, the traders arrived at the market to find the entire premises locked and armed men stationed around the facility. He claimed they were told that the market would remain closed until the traders agreed to pay the N20,000 monthly levy.
# Anambra State Governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, has commissioned a newly completed three-kilometre road project constructed by the Ekwusigo Local Government Council under the leadership of its Mayor, Hon. Chimezie Obi.
The road, constructed to a high standard, features sub-cement stabilisation, stone-base laying and asphalt finishing.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, the local government chairman, Obi said his administration was committed to driving the council’s development agenda through projects and programmes that directly impact residents and communities.
He listed several community-focused projects executed by his administration, attributing the pace of development in the council to the leadership and governance model of Governor Soludo.
Obi said his administration had been guided by the governor’s development blueprint and the aspirations contained in the people’s manifesto.
Commissioning the road, Governor Soludo described the project as a landmark achievement, saying he doubted whether any local government in Nigeria had constructed a road of comparable standard in the past 20 years.
The governor said the project demonstrated that the local government system in Anambra had regained its capacity to deliver meaningful development at the grassroots.
He attributed the development to deliberate reforms undertaken by his administration to restructure and strengthen local government administration in the state through appropriate local government laws.
Omenugha noted that Akwa Okuko once commanded considerable visibility among young people, particularly through narratives around instant wealth and shortcuts to prosperity, stating that his new role presents an opportunity to turn that visibility into a message of responsibility: there are no shortcuts to sustainable success.
He commended Prof. Soludo for this important demonstration of leadership – combining firmness with compassion, accountability with rehabilitation, and enforcement with the opportunity for transformation.
# The Traditional Ruler of Nawfia, His Royal Majesty, Igwe Daniel Ogochukwu Obelle, has reaffirmed his commitment to youth development, community safety and the fight against cultism, drug abuse and other social vices.
Obelle, who is also the Coordinator of the Police Campaign Against Cultism and Other Vices (POCACOV), made the commitment at a stakeholders’ meeting held at his palace in Nawfia.
The meeting focused on strengthening collaboration among traditional institutions, security agencies and community stakeholders to promote peace, security and responsible youth development.
The monarch commended the Nigeria Police Force for establishing POCACOV as a preventive initiative aimed at educating youths on the dangers of cultism, drug abuse and other criminal activities.
# A Philanthropist, Hon. Chibuzor Okanumee, has provided free medical check-ups and treatment to residents of Onitsha through a medical outreach held at St. Paul’s Anglican Church, Onitsha.
The exercise attracted hundreds of residents, including men, women, youths and children from Moore Street, Sainnez, Venn Road and Odoakpu communities.
The outreach featured a range of medical services, including blood pressure checks, HIV screening, malaria and typhoid tests, as well as heart and lung examinations.
Participants who were diagnosed with conditions requiring medication were also provided with drugs free of charge by the medical team.
Some beneficiaries commended Hon. Okanumee for the initiative, describing it as a timely intervention, particularly for residents who may struggle to meet the cost of healthcare
According to him, the reforms were designed to improve the financial capacity and sustainability of local councils and enable them to meet their responsibilities to residents.
Soludo said the era when local governments struggled to meet basic obligations, including the payment of primary healthcare workers, pensioners and gratuities, was over.
The governor also addressed a long-standing salary arrears involving some primary school teachers in Ekwusigo, who he said had been owed for 16 months dating back to 2001.
He explained that although previous administrations had made partial payments, his administration had commenced a fresh recertification exercise to determine the outstanding beneficiaries and amount, which he put at more than N400 million.
Soludo assured that payment would commence immediately after the recertification process was completed.
He described the Ekwusigo road as a “proof of concept” of what empowered local administrations could achieve, adding that he would embark on a tour of local government areas in the coming weeks to commission projects completed by various mayors.
The governor said the development drive of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA)-led administration had made Anambra a huge construction site, with more than 137 roads and other projects awaiting commissioning.
# The Mayor of Aguata Local Government Area, Dr Chibueze Ofobuike, has announced that all the registered students for the scholarship opportunity at the Federal College of Education (Technical), Umunze, are invited for a screening exercise.
Candidates are expected to present original copies of their credentials and any other information they deemed necessary for consideration.
According to Dr Ofobuike, fifty candidates will be selected – based on qualification and need – and will be offered full scholarship to study at the institution.
The screening exercise will hold on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, at the Aguata LGA Council Hall, from 9AM-2PM.
# The Senator representing Anambra Central Senatorial District, Senator Dr. Victor Umeh joined community leaders, titled chiefs, and guests to pay homage to the Traditional Ruler of Nise Kingdom, HRH Igwe Dr. Romanus Iloh, during the community’s 2026 New Yam Festival.
The annual cultural festival, held at the monarch’s palace in Awka South Local Government Area of Anambra State, brought together sons and daughters of Nise, along with dignitaries from across the state, to give thanks for a fruitful harvest season and celebrate Igbo cultural heritage.
Arriving at the royal palace, Senator Umeh commended Igwe Iloh for his steadfast leadership, his role in upholding peace across Nise Kingdom, and his dedication to preserving Igbo traditions. The lawmaker emphasized the significance of the Iwa Ji festival as a unifying cultural institution that strengthens communal bonds and promotes agricultural productivity.
In his response, HRH Igwe Romanus Iloh expressed gratitude to the lawmaker for his visit, commending Senator Umeh’s representative efforts at the National Assembly and his consistent presence among his constituents.
The monarch bestowed royal blessings upon the Senator, praying for continued wisdom, health, and success in his legislative endeavors.
The celebration featured traditional rituals, including the ceremonial roasting and cutting of the new yam, cultural dances, and homage paid by various age grades and visiting delegations.
# Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s Special Adviseron Youth Reformation, Dr. Nelson Omenugha has described the pardon granted by Governor Chukwuma Soludo, to Chidozie Nwangwu, popularly known as Akwa Okuko Tiwara Aki, as a significant milestone in the State’s Youth Reformation Agenda and the emergence of the New Onye Anambra.
Omenugha maintained that the significance of what Soludo has done goes beyond one individual and demonstrates that government can be firm in confronting wrongdoing while also recognising the power of rehabilitation and possible transformation.
