By Izunna Okafor, Awka
The senator representing Anambra South Senatorial District, Senator Emmanuel Nwachukwu (Ọnọdụgo), has marked his first year in office with a special thanksgiving and presentation of his one-year scorecard, highlighting his legislative contributions, constituency interventions, engagements with government authorities and efforts to address some of the major challenges confronting the district.
Nwachukwu gave the stewardship account during a press briefing at his residence in Ukpor, Nnewi South Local Government Area, on Thursday, October 8, the same date he took the oath of office in 2025, following his landslide victory in the August 2025 senatorial by-election.
Witnessed by several stakeholders and constituents, anniversary began with a Holy Mass presided over by the Catholic Bishop of Nnewi Diocese, Most Rev. Jonas-Benson Okoye, after which the senator hosted journalists to review his experiences in the Senate, the initiatives he had pursued on behalf of his constituents, the challenges being encountered, and his priorities for the years ahead.
Reflecting on the circumstances of his emergence, Nwachukwu recalled that he entered the 10th Senate midway into its tenure, filling the vacant seat left by the death of his predecessor, Late Senator Ifeanyi Ubah. He said he began to understand from the day-1 he assumed office that representation was beyond occupying a seat in the Senate, describing his responsibility as carrying the collective concerns, aspirations and expectations of the people of Anambra South to the centre of national decision-making.
While revealing that he spent his first four months on the protracted legal battle surrounding his election, he, however, maintained that the disputes did not prevent him from pursuing issues affecting his constituents.
He said the deteriorating condition of roads, the spread of erosion, unreliable electricity supply affecting businesses and industries, and the need to create opportunities for young people were among the pressing concerns that gained his attention, irrespective of the legal proceedings.
As part of his efforts to ensure continuity in constituency services, the senator said he retained the administrative secretary of the late Ifeanyi Ubah upon assuming office, adding that the decision helped to preserve institutional knowledge, sustain existing commitments and prevent an interruption in services to constituents following the change in representation.
Nwachukwu identified erosion and electricity as the two critical areas he resolved to prioritise upon as, arguing that meaningful progress in both sectors would improve the living conditions of residents and strengthen the economic prospects of Anambra South.
Highlighting his efforts towards tackling erosion, he disclosed that he approached the Federal Ministry of Environment, the Ecological Fund Office and the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation within his first month in office to seek intervention for affected communities.
He put the number of active erosion sites in Anambra South at 34, noting that the scale of the environmental problem required substantial resources beyond what state and local governments could readily provide.
According to him, officials of the Federal Ministry of Environment subsequently visited the affected areas and selected 10 sites for detailed assessment, compiling photographs, videos and statistical information to support proposals for remedial work.
Nwachukwu said the findings informed further engagements with the Presidency for approval of the proposed intervention. He explained that during his discussions with federal authorities, he was advised to approach Governor Chukwuma Soludo, given the governor’s relationship with the Presidency and the state government’s own efforts to address erosion.
He said Soludo showed him assessments already undertaken by the state’s environmental authorities, with both parties agreeing to pursue federal assistance through a coordinated approach.
The senator, however, acknowledged that the process had encountered delays because numerous states and projects were already awaiting attention at the Ecological Fund Office. He expressed hope that the necessary presidential approval would be secured to enable the proposed interventions to proceed to the contracting and implementation stages.
The senator also spoke on the condition of the Okija Spur–Ihembosi–Ukpor–Ebenator–Ezinifite Road corridor, with journalists questioning why the road remains in poor condition despite appearing in previous federal budgets.
Highlighting his efforts to secure intervention on the route whose failed sections have affected movement between communities, he recalled sponsoring a motion in the Senate drawing attention to the condition of the road. He said, following the motion, the Senate directed the Federal Ministry of Works and the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) to undertake the necessary engineering interventions.
He disclosed that he personally engaged the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, who explained that the federal government was facing financial constraints that had affected the funding of capital projects. According to Nwachukwu, the minister indicated that the Anambra State Government could undertake the road if the necessary letter of no objection was obtained from the federal authorities.
He said he subsequently approached Governor Soludo, who acknowledged the importance of the road but explained that the state’s financial constraints made immediate execution difficult.
While clarifying that a project appearing in previous budgets does not necessarily mean that the money required for its construction had been released; he, however, insisted that he would continue to pursue federal intervention on the project. He expressed hope that an improvement in the country’s financial position would allow projects such as the Okija Spur corridor and major erosion interventions to receive the attention they required. The Senator also highlighted the ongoing efforts on the failed section of Nnewi—Ukpor road.
On electricity, Nwachukwu said he had engaged the Transmission Company of Nigeria and relevant federal power authorities over right-of-way difficulties around Nnobi and environs and the need to accelerate completion of the Nnewi Injection Substation.
He said improved electricity infrastructure was essential to the economic interests of Anambra South, particularly the manufacturing, commercial and industrial activities concentrated in Nnewi and neighbouring communities, where unreliable supply continues to affect businesses.
The senator further disclosed that the first phase of an initiative to install more than 3,000 solar-powered streetlights across Anambra South was underway, describing it as part of his ongoing interventions to light up the district.
On humanitarian interventions, the senator said he had worked with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the Nigerian Red Cross to secure and distribute relief materials to victims of fire outbreaks, including affected families in Ozubulu. He added that he had drawn NEMA’s attention to victims of a building collapse in Oko, Orumba North Local Government Area.
Regarding youth employment, Nwachukwu said he had been facilitating federal employment opportunities for qualified young people from the district. He further appealed to journalists and other stakeholders to help encourage Igbo youths’ participation in recruitment opportunities in the Nigerian Army, Navy, Air Force and Department of State Services (DSS), expressing concern that some young people from the South-East had been reluctant to join the security services because of fears that they could be deployed to conflict areas.
He warned that continued reluctance by qualified youths from the region to enlist could leave the South-East inadequately represented in the country’s security institutions in the coming years. He therefore urged the media, youth groups and community stakeholders to help encourage eligible applicants to take advantage of available recruitment opportunities.
The senator also defended his commitment to promote cooperation among elected representatives from Anambra South, and from Anambra State, irrespective of party affiliation, and to maintain regular engagement with the governor on issues requiring federal attention.
He cited a meeting between the Anambra State National Assembly caucus and Governor Soludo, which included Senator Victor Umeh, Senator Tony Nwoye and other lawmakers, as one of the steps taken towards improving coordination between the state’s federal legislators and the executive arm of government.
Nwachukwu said his engagement with the governor remained ongoing, adding that he had coordinated discussions within the South-East National Assembly caucus, including engagements with the Anambra State governor on the agitation for creation of an additional state in the region. He further revealed that he was having regular town-halls and engagements with his constituents, both at the grassroots level and beyond.
“Beyond Abuja, I maintained continuous town-hall meetings and consultation sessions with traditional rulers, Presidents-General, youth bodies, women’s organizations and constituents across all 7 Local Government Areas of Anambra South, as well as our diaspora communities in Lagos and across Nigeria,” he stated.
On electoral reform, the senator said he was among 15 senators who voted against retaining a provision in the amended Electoral Act that permits manual procedures when electronic transmission of election results fails.
He explained that although the amended law provided for electronic transmission, the exception for manual fallback had generated concern among constituents, many of whom contacted him to urge him to oppose it.
According to Nwachukwu, his concern was that a provision introduced for exceptional circumstances could eventually become the accepted practice, thereby weakening the purpose of electronic transmission. He acknowledged, however, that the position he supported was defeated after 55 senators voted in favour of retaining the provision, leaving the exception in the amended law.
On INEC’s position that the commission should be the sole body announcing official election results, Nwachukwu backed the arrangement, arguing that the electoral umpire was responsible for conducting elections, receiving results and making official declarations. He said candidates and political parties dissatisfied with declared outcomes should seek redress through the courts rather than announce competing results.
He also addressed questions about the statutory limits on campaign expenditure, saying that Nigeria had laws against vote-buying and other electoral offences but that enforcement remained a major challenge. He argued that electoral credibility depended not merely on making laws but on ensuring that those who violated them were brought to justice.
Speaking on 2027 elections, Nwachukwu expressed confidence in the prospects of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), declaring that the party was determined to win all 44 positions it would contest in Anambra State.
He listed the 3 senatorial seats, 11 House of Representatives seats and the 30 state House of Assembly positions among the contests for which the party was preparing, adding that its leaders had been holding strategic meetings ahead of the federal elections scheduled for January 16, 2027, and the state legislative elections on February 6.
The senator attributed the party’s confidence to the performance of Governor Soludo’s administration, saying he expected APGA to improve on its performance in the 2023 general elections across the South-East.
The senator expressed gratitude to Governor Soludo, APGA National Chairman Barr. Sly Ezeokenwa, traditional rulers, religious leaders, community leaders, youth organisations, women’s groups, professionals, business leaders and other stakeholders for their support during his first year in office.
Addressing his constituents across Aguata, Orumba North, Orumba South, Ihiala, Nnewi North, Nnewi South and Ekwusigo, Nwachukwu said he did not regard the anniversary as a final destination but as the foundation of a longer journey of service.
He maintained that the first year had provided a basis for consolidating ongoing initiatives, improving where necessary and rolling out new ones.
Nwachukwu maintained that his responsibility was to ensure that the concerns of the district continued to receive attention at the national level, while also calling for sustained and greater cooperation between the federal and state governments, elected representatives and community stakeholders towards a stronger, safer and more prosperous Anambra South.
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