Somtochukwu Udeze, the member representing Ogbaru II Constituency in the Anambra State House of Assembly, has been elected Speaker.
On Monday, Udeze was overwhelmingly chosen Speaker by the 30 members of the eighth Assembly at the State House of Assembly Complex in Awka, Anambra State’s capital.
He is a third-term Assembly member who was elected on the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance in 2015, but afterwards decamped to the Peoples Democratic Party, under which he was re-elected in 2019.
He also won the PDP House of Assembly elections in March 2023, making him a three-term member, but afterwards decamped to APGA only days before the state Assembly’s inauguration.
Udeze was nominated for the position by Ikenna Ofodeme, the member representing Ekwusigo Constituency, and seconded by Chimezie Ikwunne, the member representing Awka North.
During the event, which was also attended by the Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, Chukwuma Okoye, the member representing the Awka South II Constituency, emerged as the deputy speaker of the house, after a voice vote by the lawmakers.
Both were sworn in by Esther Aneto, the acting clerk of the House, who also decorated the new Speaker to succeed Uchenna Okafor.
During the event, Soludo praised the legislature as a crucial partner in the pursuit of good governance and the delivery of democratic dividends.
“I congratulate our newly inaugurated legislators,” Soludo added. Regardless of your various political inclinations, you have been employed by the people to ensure that Anambra blossoms.
“To achieve project Anambra by making the state liveable and prosperous, the executive, legislature, and judiciary must work collaboratively, coordinated, and cooperatively.”
“I am confident that Anambra will have the most productive legislature in the country if you all act fully in accordance with the oath of office and allegiance you have taken.”
“It is a new productive partnership, and as the head of government’s executive arm, I am ready to help us achieve our common goal of a greater Anambra.”
“It is a new productive partnership, and as the head of the executive branch of government, I am ready to help us achieve our common goal of a greater Anambra.”
In his acceptance address, the new speaker vowed to promote people’s welfare and security through developmental-oriented measures and motions, as well as to act as an effective watchdog of the state’s commonwealth.
“I thank my colleagues for electing me as Speaker.” Under my leadership, the 8th Assembly will foster a cooperative and mutually respectful relationship with the administration and judiciary.
“I sincerely look forward to a healthy interdependence relationship in which each arm approaches the other as a responsible partner in governance.”
“We shall ensure the development of appropriate legislative templates for addressing the numerous challenges in our state,” he continued.
He also read the ruling APGA’s letter on the nominations for principal officers, after which he said the letter would be considered at the next adjourned meeting on July 11.
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