The Executive Council of Abia State (informally and more commonly, the Cabinet of Abia State) is the highest formal governmental body that plays important roles in the Government of Abia State headed by the Governor of Abia State. [1] It consists of the deputy governor, Secretary to the State Government, chief of staff, commissioners who preside over ministerial departments, and the governor's special aides. Appointment into these positions except the position of deputy governor is exercised by the governor on approval and confirmation by the Abia State House of Assembly. [2]
Officially, the executive council exists to advice and direct the governor in order to improve the governor's performance on the welfare of the state. Their appointment as members of the executive council gives them the authority to execute power. [3]
The current executive council is serving under the Okezie Ikpeazu administration, who took office as the 4th governor of Abia State on 29 May 2015. [4] On the 17th of October 2019, the executive governor of Abia State Okezie Ikpeazu swore in a new Cabinet except the office of his chief of staff, Commissioner for Information and the Commissioner for Justice and attorney-general, Barr Uche Ihediwa. [5] [6]
Office | Incumbent |
---|---|
Governor | Okezie Ikpeazu |
Deputy Governor | Ude Oko Chukwu |
Secretary to the State Government | Barr. Chris Ezem |
Head of Service | Sir Onyii Wamah |
Chief of Staff | Okey Ahiwe: 11 April 2022-31 January 2023 |
Deputy Chief of Staff (Governor's Office) | Vancant currently |
Deputy Chief of Staff (Deputy Governor's Office) | Sir Don Ubani |
Commissioner for Finance | Dr. Aham Uko |
Commissioner for Budget and Planning | Vacant |
Commissioner for Corporatives & Rural Development | Mazi Donatus Okorie |
Commissioner for Basic Education | Chief Emma Ukwu |
Commissioner for Post- Basic Education | Barr Chijioke Mark |
Attorney general/Commissioner for Justice | Barr. Uche Ihediwa |
Commissioner for Health | Dr Joe Osuji |
Commissioner for Housing | Chief Chinagorom Nwankpa |
Commissioner for Inter-government affairs | Obinna Okey |
Commissioner for Parastatals | Monday Ejiegbu |
Commissioner for Industry | Mrs Uwaoma Olewengwa |
Commissioner for Information | Barr Eze Chikamnayo |
Commissioner for Joint projects | Barr Chinenye Emelogu |
Commissioner for Documentation and Strategic Communication | Ugochukwu N Emezue |
Commissioner for special duties/Vulnerable group | Chief Chisom Nwachukwu |
Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy | Prince Christopher Enweremadu |
Commissioner for Petroleum | Chief Eze Nwanganga |
Commissioner for Public Utilities | Chief Kingsley Imaga |
Commissioner for SMEs Development | Mrs Adaku Uwaoma Onusirika Osieza |
Commissioner for Science and Technology | Okezie Erondu |
Commissioner for Youth Development | Barr Charles Esonu |
Commissioner for Sports | Pascal Karibe Ojigwe |
Commissioner for Culture and Tourism | Barr Tony Nwanmuo |
Commissioner for Trade and Investment | John Okiyi Kalu |
Commissioner for Agriculture | Prof Ikechi Mgbeoji |
Commissioner for Transport | Chief Godswill Uche Nwanoruo |
Commissioner for Women Affairs | Deaconess Rose Urenta |
Commissioner for Works | Bob Chiedozie Ogu |
Commissioner for Homeland Security | Sopuruchi Bekee |
Abia State is a state in the South-East geopolitical zone of Nigeria, it is bordered to the northwest by Anambra State and northeast by the states of Enugu, and Ebonyi, Imo State to the west, Cross River State to the east, Akwa Ibom State to the southeast, and Rivers State to the south. Abia is the only Southeastern state that has boundaries with the other four Southeastern states in Nigeria. It takes its name from the acronym for four of the state's most populated regions: Aba, Bende, Isuikwuato, and Afikpo. The state capital is Umuahia while the largest city and commercial centre is Aba.
Theodore Ahamefule Orji in Umuahia North, Abia State) is a Nigerian politician. He served as the Governor of Abia State from 2007 to 2015. He was formerly a career civil servant, and served as the Chief of Staff to the former Abia Governor Orji Uzor Kalu.
Nnenna Ijeoma Elendu Ukeje is a Nigerian politician who was the representative for Bende Federal Constituency, Abia State, Nigeria. Having had a successful career in the private sector, Nnenna was elected to the House of Representatives in 2007, She was re-elected to the position on 29 May 2011 and also served as the Chairman house committee on foreign affairs. In the 2015 general elections she was also re-elected to the house of representative and once again appointed as the house committee chairman on foreign affairs.
Eric Iheanacho "Acho" Nwakanma is a Nigerian politician, businessman and philanthropist, who served twice as the 4th and then the 6th Deputy Governor of Abia State, Nigeria on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), from 2006 to 2007 under Governor Orji Uzor Kalu and again under Governor Theodore Orji from 2010 to 2011.
Okezie Victor Ikpeazu is a Nigerian politician and former Governor of Abia State, who was in office from 29 May 2015 to 29 May 2023. He was elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party. He was re-elected as the Governor of Abia state at the 9 March 2019 gubernatorial election. He ran for election at the 2023 Senatorial election for Abia South Senatorial District but came a distant third behind incumbent Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe of All Progressive Grand Alliance and a political newbie Chinedu Onyeizu of the Labour Party.
The government of Abia State is the supreme governing authority of Abia State and its local governments. It consists of the executive headed by the governor, the legislative and the judiciary.
Abia State has a multi-party political system. The politics of Abia State is governed within the framework of a presidential republic with the Governor of Abia State serving jointly as the head-of-state and head of government. The Governor exercises the executive power vested on him or her directly, although the constitution also authorizes the Deputy Governor and Commissioners to carry out such exercises. Legislative power rests on the shoulders of a 24-member unicameral House of Assembly while the judicial power is exercised directly by the Judiciary of Abia State. Power in Abia State is divided into three branches: executive, legislative and judiciary, similarly to the United States.
Rt. Hon. Sir, Ude Oko Chukwu (FCA) (FCA) is a Nigerian accountant and politician who served as Deputy Governor of Abia State from May 2015 to May 2023 after he was elected into office in 2015 under the platform of the People's Democratic Party. Prior to his swearing-in as Deputy Governor, he had served as the Speaker of the 5th Abia State House of Assembly.
Eme Okoro is a Nigerian politician of the People's Democratic Party who currently serves as the Secretary to the State Government in Abia State after he was appointed by Okezie Ikpeazu on 3 June 2015 succeeding Mkpa Agu Mkpa.
Chijioke Nwakodo was a Nigerian politician and businessman. He served as the 3rd Abia state chief of staff from 3 June 2015 until his death in August 2017.
Theresa Uzoamaka Uzokwe is a Nigerian legal practitioner. She is the current Chief Judge of Abia State after she was appointed on 22 December 2014 by Theodore Orji. Prior to her appointment, she had served twice in the position as acting Chief Judge.
The 7th Abia State House of Assembly was Inaugurated on Monday 10 June 2019 after a Proclamation by the Abia State Governor Dr. Okezie Victor Ikpeazu. Formed after the Governorship and State House of Assembly Elections of Saturday 9 March 2019 and inaugurated on Monday 10 June 2019, the Representatives of the Assembly were elected from 24 constituencies with the majority being members of the People's Democratic Party. The elected Speaker is Chinedum Orji representing Umuahia Central State Constituency.
The 2019 Abia State gubernatorial election occurred on March 9, 2019. Incumbent PDP Governor Okezie Ikpeazu won re-election for a second term, defeating APC's Uchechukwu Sampson Ogah, and several minor party candidates. The major contenders for the race signed a peace accord agreement in January 2019.
Benjamin Okezie Kalu, is a Nigerian politician who is the current deputy speaker of the House of Representatives of Nigeria since 2023, he won election to the position unopposed. He is representing Bende federal constituency in the House.
The 2023 Abia State gubernatorial election took place on 18 March 2023, to elect the Governor of Abia State, concurrent with elections to the Abia State House of Assembly as well as twenty-seven other gubernatorial elections and elections to all other state houses of assembly. The election—which was postponed from its original 11 March date—will be held three weeks after the presidential election and National Assembly elections. Incumbent PDP governor Okezie Ikpeazu was term-limited and could not seek a third term. Alex Otti, a banker, gained the office for the Labour Party by a margin of victory over first runner-up and PDP nominee—Okey Ahiwe, the former Chief of Staff to Ikpeazu.
In the Federal Republic of Nigeria, state executive councils are the highest formal governmental body in state governments headed by governors.
The 2023 Nigerian Senate elections in Abia State will be held on 25 February 2023, to elect the 3 federal Senators from Abia State, one from each of the state's three senatorial districts. The elections will coincide with the 2023 presidential election, as well as other elections to the Senate, and elections to the House of Representatives; with state elections being held two weeks later. Primaries were held between 4 April and 9 June 2022.
The 2023 Abia State House of Assembly election was take place on 18 March 2023, to elect members of the Abia State House of Assembly. The election was held concurrent with the state gubernatorial election as well as twenty-seven other gubernatorial elections and elections to all other state houses of assembly. It was held three weeks after the presidential election and National Assembly elections.
Kelechi Onuzuruike is a Nigerian politician. He is the Deputy Chief Whip of the Abia State House of Assembly. He currently represents Umuahia North state constituency in the Abia State House of Assembly.
Chimaobi Ebisike is a Nigerian politician, member of the 9th Federal House of Representatives in from Aba North/ Aba South Federal Constituency of Abia State.