Awka, NIGERIA — The Anambra State House of Assembly, yesterday, elected Hon. Sometochukwu Udeze from Ogbaru II State Constituency as it new Speaker while Hon Chukwuma Okoye, Awka South II Constituency emerged as the Deputy Speaker of the State 8th Assembly.
Udeze emerged as the Speaker after he was unanimously elected by the 30 members of the eighth Assembly at the State House of Assembly Complex in Awka, the Anambra State capital.
He is a third-term member of the Assembly, who first became a member of the house on the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance in 2015, but later decamped to the Peoples Democratic Party, under which he won re-election to the house in 2019.
He also won the March 2023 House of Assembly elections under the PDP, which made him become a three-term member, but thereafter decamped back to APGA, a few days before the inauguration of the State Assembly.
In an acceptance speech, the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Somtochukwu Udeze, assured that the Assembly duly constituted was ready to work with the executive for the development of the state.
Udeze who lauded Governor Chukwuma Soludo for his efforts aimed at developing the state urged the members to work together as a team irrespective of political party affiliation.
He thanked the assembly for the confidence reposed in him, pleaded for co-operation of the honorable members and vowed to live up to expectation.
He urged them to prepare for the huge task that lies ahead of them, pointing out that the legislature could only function well when it is in unity with the executive, stressing that under his leadership, legislative intentions in the areas of insecurity, youth unemployment, road infrastructure, and other urgent issues would be met.
In his address the State Governor Chukwuma Soludo who expressed gratitude for the smooth manner the election was conduced, congratulated the Speaker, Deputy Speaker, and all the newly elected members, observing that the swearing-in ceremony and administering of the oath of office and allegiance marked a turning point in his administration’s effort to create liveable and prosperous Anambra.
The Governor emphasized that with the reconstitution of the Assembly, a nIw partnership has emerged that would form a team for a prosperous Anambra State.
“We all share the same ambition and goal. Four political parties are represented in this Assembly, but we are all employees of the people, to serve and carry out their will, together with the Executive and Judiciary for the goal of One Anambra, one people and one agenda.
“It’s like a vehicle, whichever political party it was that brought you to this hallowed chamber, you leave the car in the parking lot before entering the assembly. Project Anambra is the only political party that unites us, Governor Soludo stated.
Professor Soludo maintained that in order to serve the people of Anambra, the three arms of government must cooperate.
We hope that the eighth assembly will be the most productive one ever held in Nigeria.
“To provide a liveable and prosperous Anambra, we have a comprehensive list of legislative frameworks.
“I can sense the energy in this chamber, and I’m asking you all to keep it up so that this Assembly can grow for the benefit of the state.
“We are the light of the nation, and that light will never go out. Reread your oath of office and allegiance and paste it on your walls at home”, the Governor advised.
Report by Oleka Percy Oleka