Ex-senator elected Anambra APC chairman

A former senator who represented Anambra North, Emmanuel Anosike, has been elected Chairman of the Anambra State chapter of the All Progressives Congress.

Anosike, who currently serves as Chairman of the Anambra Imo River Basin Development Commission, emerged through a consensus arrangement at the party’s state congress held at its secretariat in Awka on Tuesday.

The Chairman of the State Congress Committee and Returning Officer, Williams Kayoda, announced the adoption of a consensus list for the State Executive Committee. According to him, about 2,100 delegates endorsed the list through voice affirmation.

Kayoda named Chief Chidi Orji as Vice Chairman and Obi Okpala as Secretary, alongside other executive members. He said the process complied with Articles 14 and 20 of the party’s constitution, which allow for the selection of officers by consensus.

“I hereby affirm that the congress was free, fair and credible,” Kayoda said. “In fulfilment of the relevant constitutional provisions, Senator Emmanuel Anosike and other members of the State Executive Committee are duly elected and returned.”

Earlier, the Chairman of the Congress Harmonisation Committee and Director-General of the South-East Governors’ Forum, Uche Ekwunife, said the consensus approach was adopted after consultations with stakeholders across wards and local governments in the state.

She said the arrangement was aimed at producing a leadership team capable of strengthening the party’s structure in Anambra.

“We agreed on a basketing arrangement in line with constitutional provisions on consensus and found Senator Emmanuel Anosike and his team fit to manage the affairs of the party,” she said.

In his acceptance speech, Anosike pledged to run an inclusive administration and called for unity among members.

“We will ensure that all members are carried along in the affairs of the party,” he said. “We are committed to delivering President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 general elections.”

Following the congress, the executive committee led by the immediate past chairman, Basil Ejidike, was dissolved after a motion adopted by voice vote.

In his remarks, Ejidike, who served for seven years, urged members to support the new leadership and expressed confidence in the party’s future in the state.

The event was attended by several party stakeholders, including Chairman of United Nigeria Airlines, Prof. Obiora Okonkwo, Azuka Okwuosa and Iyke Iliobi.