Abia Govt Announces Solemn Assembly, Covenant Renewal

Abia State Government has announced a Solemn Assembly and Covenant Renewal Service as part of activities to seek God’s guidance and commit the affairs of the state into His hands ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The programme, themed “Remembering the Covenant”, is scheduled for Wednesday, September 23, at the JAAC Auditorium, Ogurube Layout, Umuahia.

The Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs and Coordinator of the programme, Prince Uzor Nwachukwu, disclosed this while briefing journalists in Umuahia.

Prince Nwachukwu said the programme was intended to thank God for His faithfulness to the state and renew the covenant entered into with God at the inception of the present administration.

The commissioner recalled periods when the state attracted negative national attention over allegations of leaders being taken to shrines for allegiance, saying Abia became associated with poor governance and underdevelopment.

“For all those who have been in Abia, the story of our state is well known.

“From the time of our creation as a state in 1991, the various leaders had given their best, but the state had serious and terrible challenges.

“It was in this state, at one time, that it became national news that leaders were put into some kind of shrines for allegiance.

“And it became a national embarrassment over a state called in the name of God”, he said.

Prince Nwachukwu said the people’s prayers were eventually answered with the emergence of Governor Alex Otti following what he described as failed attempts to effect a change in government in 2015 and 2019.

He said, “at the third trial, it was the God of Trinity that showed forth His mighty power and broke the chain of enslavement, the chain of occultism and destroyed the unity of darkness and brought in His light” through Otti’s election as governor.

The commissioner also recalled the jubilation that followed Otti’s declaration as governor and the subsequent seven-day fasting and prayers coordinated by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN).

According to him, the exercise culminated in the rededication of the state to God at Ngwa High School, Aba, where the new administration entered into a covenant with God.

Prince Nwachukwu said the forthcoming assembly was considered necessary as the state approaches another election season, with campaigns for the 2027 general elections expected to gather momentum from October.

“As we get into another season of election, by next month, October, campaigns may start in full swing, it was the thinking of the governor and his leadership that same God, we need to go and thank Him for thus far He has led us, and renew this covenant”, he said.

Prince Nwachukwu explained that, unlike the open-field dedication held in 2023, the forthcoming Solemn Assembly would be strictly by invitation and would bring together key religious, political and administrative leaders.

Those expected at the event, he said, include church leaders, political appointees at state and local government levels, elected officials from councillors, deputy mayors and mayors to members of the State and National Assemblies.

The commissioner also noted that the Governor and his deputy, the First Lady, commissioners, permanent secretaries, the Head of Service, local government heads of service, directors, deputy directors are also expected to participate.

He further announced that churches across the state would observe a day of fasting on September 24 in their respective locations.

According to the commissioner, thanksgiving services would also be held in all Seventh-Day Adventist (SDA) churches on Saturday, September 26, while other churches would hold their thanksgiving services on Sunday, September 27.

Also speaking, the Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, said the initiative was conceived out of the present administration’s belief in seeking divine guidance and committing the affairs of the state into God’s hands.

Prince Kanu said this was particularly important as political campaigns and other activities leading to the 2027 general elections begin to gather momentum.

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