Anambra Govt Inaugurates Eighth Assembly, Elects Speaker

David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka

Anambra State government yesterday inaugurated the eighth session of the Anambra State House of Assembly.

The session was inaugurated before the Anambra State governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, who attended the inaugural session physically.

The members also elected the member representing Ogbaru II State Constituency, Hon Somtochukwu Udeze, as Speaker of the eighth assembly.

Udeze, took over from Hon. Uchenna Okafor, who failed to secure reelection during the March 2023 election.

He (Udeze) was elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), but recently defected to the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA).

He was elected speaker of the assembly by 30 members of the assembly after he was nominated for the position by the member representing Ekwusigo Constituency, Ikenna Ofodeme, and seconded by his Awka North counterpart, Chimezie Ikwunne.

The member representing Awka South II Constituency, Hon Chukwuma Okoye, was also elected deputy speaker.

Both officers were sworn-in by the acting clerk of the House, Esther Aneto.

Soludo, who addressed the members during the ceremony described the legislature as a crucial partner in the quest for good governance.

He said: “I congratulate our newly inaugurated legislators. Irrespective of your different party affiliations, you have been employed by the people to ensure that Anambra blossoms.

“The executive, the legislature and the judiciary, must work in a collaboratively, coordinative and cooperative way to achieve project Anambra by making the state livable and prosperous.

“If you all act fully in accordance with the oath of office and allegiance you have taken, I’m sure that Anambra will have the most productive legislature in the country.

“It is a new productive partnership and as the head of the executive arm of government, I am ready so that we can achieve our common goal which is a greater Anambra.”