By Chinazaekpere Chinwendu,
Ikwuano, Abia State| September 21, 2026 —
The Council Senate of Ikwuano Local Government Area, comprising representatives of various staff groups and departments within the council, has passed a vote of confidence in the Executive Mayor of Ikwuano LGA, Dr. Anthony Nzeribe Nwaubani, PhD, FCA, FCIB, commending his leadership style, commitment to staff welfare and cordial relationship with the workforce.
The Council Senate, which operates with the participation of leaders of staff groups, including the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees, NULGE, and representatives drawn from different departments of the council, paid a solidarity visit to the Mayor on Tuesday, September 15, 2026. The delegation was led by the Chairman of the Council Senate, Comrade Nwaka Obisike.
Speaking during the visit, the Council Senate expressed satisfaction with what it described as the Mayor's remarkable performance since assuming office, describing him as a "silent and disciplined achiever" whose leadership approach has continued to positively impact the administration and workforce of the local government.
The staff representatives particularly commended Nwaubani for maintaining what they described as a healthy and respectful relationship with the generality of council employees. They expressed appreciation for his demonstrated concern for the welfare of workers, as well as his prompt attention to issues affecting staff, noting that his disposition had contributed to a more harmonious working environment within the council.
The delegation also condemned what it described as attempts by certain individuals to blackmail and discredit the Mayor, the management and the general staff of the local government. While referring to allegations involving an individual associated with the Abia State Orientation Agency, ABSOA, in Ikwuano, and Kelvin Orji, whom they identified as a Forestry staff member of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, MOUAU, and operator of a media platform known as Ikwuano TV, the Council Senate described the alleged campaign as an attack on the integrity of the council workforce and its leadership.
The Council Senate consequently passed a vote of confidence in Mayor Nwaubani and assured him of the wholehearted support of the council staff. The representatives urged him to remain focused on his administration's programmes and responsibilities, assuring him that they would stand by him and handle what they described as attempts to distract the administration from its developmental agenda.
They also commended the Governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Chioma Otti, OFR, for his sustained efforts to improve the welfare of local government employees across the state. According to the delegation, the governor's policies and interventions has continued to put smiles on the faces of council workers, including employees of Ikwuano Local Government Area.
The staff representatives further requested a comprehensive list of projects and programmes executed by the Nwaubani administration, apparently to enable them properly document and communicate the council's activities and achievements to the public. The request, they indicated, would also assist in providing a factual account of the administration's performance and countering what they considered misleading narratives about the council.
Responding, Mayor Nwaubani thanked the Council Senate, NULGE leadership and other members of staff for the solidarity visit and for expressing confidence in his administration. He said the show of support demonstrated that the workforce understood the direction of the administration and appreciated its efforts toward improving the local government.
Nwaubani assured the delegation that he would remain focused on his responsibilities and would not allow what he described as blackmail and attempts at distraction to derail the administration. He maintained that he had been subjected to a series of highly coordinated blackmail campaigns in Ikwuano, adding that those behind such efforts had, in his view, exposed themselves through their actions.
The Mayor reaffirmed his commitment to working with the council workforce and other stakeholders to advance the interests of Ikwuano, stressing the importance of unity, discipline and constructive engagement in achieving sustainable development at the grassroots.
The solidarity visit and vote of confidence show the importance of harmonious relations between political leadership and the career workforce in local government administration, particularly as councils continue to play a critical role in delivering grassroots services and implementing development initiatives.