Governor Peter Ndubisi Mbah of Enugu State has submitted a list of six new commissioner-nominees to the Enugu State House of Assembly for confirmation.
The development coincides with the resignation of Adaora Chukwu, daughter of former governor Sullivan Chime, from the State Executive Council.
The Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Professor Chidiebere Onyia, made the announcement in a statement on Thursday.
According to Onyia, the nominees include:
Osita Okoh
Ben Collins Ndu Jr.
Dr. Samuel Ogbu-Nwobodo
Franklin Ogbonna
Prof. Benedeth Okoli
Prof. George Ugwu
The SSG did not disclose the portfolios for the nominees.
In addition to the nominations, the governor has appointed Godwin Anigbo as the new Head of Service for Enugu State.
“This appointment takes effect immediately,” Prof. Onyia said in the statement.
The new nominations come amid a cabinet shake-up.
Adaora Chukwu, who served as Commissioner for Trade, Commerce and Investment, announced her resignation on Thursday via her Instagram page.
“I wish to officially inform the public that I have resigned from my role as Commissioner for Trade, Investment and Industry in Enugu State,” she wrote.
Ms Chukwu expressed gratitude to Governor Mbah for the opportunity to serve but did not provide reasons for her departure.
Sources told DAILY GAZETTE that although Ms Chukwu submitted her resignation on Wednesday, she was allegedly asked to step down.
A lawyer by profession, she is the daughter of former Governor Sullivan Chime, a known ally of Governor Mbah, though Chime is now a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Earlier, Aka Eze, then Commissioner for Information, also resigned to contest and win the Udenu Local Government Chairmanship election.
When Governor Mbah assumed office in 2023, he appointed 20 commissioners.
By 2024, he added Chimaobi Okorie as Commissioner for Lands, increasing the count to 21.
With the resignation of Aka Eze and Adaora Chukwu, the number dropped to 19.
If the assembly confirms the six new nominees, the total number of commissioners will rise to 25.
This would exceed the 24 commissioners appointed by former Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi in 2015 and even the 20 he maintained during his second term.
There are ongoing speculations that more resignations may follow in the coming days, potentially leading to further cabinet changes.
