AWKA, Nigeria — The Anambra State Government has unveiled the programme of events for the second-term swearing-in of Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo and his deputy, Dr. Onyekachukwu Ibezim, signaling the start of the state’s administrative transition following the November 2025 gubernatorial election.
The announcement, signed by State Commissioner for Information, Dr. Law Mefor, was made available to journalists in Awka on Tuesday. The inauguration will provide a platform for the administration to outline its policy direction for the next four years.
Official Ceremony and Festivities
The main swearing-in ceremony will take place at Dr. Alex Ekwueme Square, Awka, with accompanying events scheduled to mark the occasion:
- March 15, 2026: Inter-denominational service at the International Convention Center (ICC), Awka
- March 22, 2026: Formal thanksgiving mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Awka
The events follow Governor Soludo’s decisive victory in the November 8, 2025 election, where he secured 422,664 votes, comfortably defeating APC candidate Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu, who polled 99,445 votes.
Other contenders included Paul Chukwuma of the Young Progressives Party (37,753 votes), George Moghalu of the Labour Party (10,576 votes), and John Nwosu of the African Democratic Congress (8,208 votes).
Continuity and Policy Focus
Observers interpret Soludo’s wide margin of victory as a strong endorsement of his first-term performance, particularly in urban renewal, infrastructure development, and industrialization along the Onitsha-Nnewi-Awka axis.
The administration’s second term will focus on:
- Completion of the Anambra Airport City project
- Expansion of digital technology integration in the civil service
- Strengthening community policing and the Anambra State Vigilante Group (AVG)
- Aggressive drive for internally generated revenue (IGR)
- Formalization of the informal trade sector and land registry reforms
Governor Soludo, a former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, has emphasized a “homegrown” economic model, aiming to boost local investment and reduce reliance on federal allocations.
Economic and Security Outlook
The inauguration is expected to bring an influx of dignitaries and a temporary economic boost to Awka, particularly in the hospitality and transport sectors. Security measures have been finalized to ensure peaceful and orderly proceedings.
With APGA maintaining political control in Anambra for nearly two decades, continuity in leadership is expected to provide stability, encouraging long-term investment in the state’s manufacturing and agricultural zones.
