Manny Ita –
Prof. Chukwuma Charles Soludo has been formally sworn in for a second four‑year term as governor of Anambra State, taking the oaths of allegiance and office in a ceremony held on Tuesday at the newly renovated Alex Ekwueme Square in Awka, the state capital. Governor Soludo took the oath at about 11:50 a.m., signing the documents amid applause as supporters and officials looked on. His deputy, Dr Onyekachukwu Gilbert Ibezim, also took the oath alongside him in the presence of family members and state and national leaders. The inauguration marked the official commencement of Soludo’s mandate that will run until 2030.
Nigeria’s Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, representing President Bola Tinubu at the event, commended Soludo’s contributions to national development and governance during his first term. Shettima described the governor as “a man of ideas and honour” whose non‑partisan leadership has strengthened political, economic and social institutions and fostered unity across divisions. He said the people of Anambra, by returning Soludo to office, had effectively renewed “a covenant with competence and consolidation.” Shettima also told the gathering that Soludo’s insights and constructive counsel had benefited the federal government’s policy direction.
The ceremony drew an array of prominent dignitaries, including former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan, elder statesman Chief Emeka Anyaoku, and traditional leaders such as the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, reflecting broad national interest in the state’s political trajectory. Their attendance underscored the significance of the event as a major political milestone for Anambra and the wider South‑East region.
In his remarks to the gathering, Governor Soludo spoke about improvements in security across the state, declaring that the long‑standing “Monday sit‑at‑home” practice had ended and that markets, schools and public activities had resumed normal operations. He said, “The debilitating one‑sit‑at‑home is over, and our schools, markets, businesses, and public servants are back to work,” adding that Anambra has become “one of the safest states in Nigeria.”
The swearing‑in ceremony included ceremonial moments that captured public attention, such as a 74‑year‑old woman, Grace Okafor, presenting a live fowl to the governor in goodwill, a gesture that drew applause from the crowd.
Soludo, a professor of economics and former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, won re‑election in the November 2025 off‑cycle governorship poll with a commanding mandate, securing victory by a landslide across all constituencies. His administration’s priorities in the second term are expected to focus on security consolidation, economic growth, infrastructure development, and enhanced governance.
The event concluded with assurances from Soludo and his supporters that the renewed mandate would be used to deepen reforms and strengthen Anambra’s role as a hub of innovation and progress in the South‑East, reaffirming commitments to inclusive development and public service.
