The government of Anambra State is separated into three distinct branches: executive, legislative, and judicial.The powers of Anambra Stateàare vested by theàConstitution of Nigeria, enacted in 1999 and amended in 2011, in aàunicameralàstate legislature âÂÂthe Anambra State House of AssemblyâÂÂ, theàGovernor, and the state courts, headed the Anambra State High Court.
The Governor of Anambra State is head of the executive branch. The office of governor is an elected position, for which elected officials serve four-year terms. Governors cannot be elected to more than two consecutive terms, but there is no limit on the total number of terms they may serve. They must have also attained the age of thirty-five. The official residence for the governor is the Light House located in Awka. The Governor is responsible for appointing judicial officers including the state's chief judge and his cabinets âÂÂcommissioners of Anambra State ministries âÂÂhowever, the governor's appointment are generally subject to confirmation by the state's legislature branch.
The deputy governor of Anambra State is the second highest-ranking official in the state government. The office of deputy governor is elected on a ticket with the governor for a four-year term concurrent with the governor.
Roy Umenyi was the first to serve in the post in its modern form under Governor Jim Nwobodo. Medical doctor and politician Onyeka Ibezim serves as the deputy governor after he was chosen by Governor Soludo to be his running-mate on the APGA party ticket in the 2021 election.
The Nigerian constitution provides that the governor appoints the heads of the state ministries under the confirmation of the state assembly. , Anambra State has 20 principal ministries.
The Nigerian Constitution provides for a bicameral legislature at the federal level. The upper house consisting of an assembly of 360 members called senators. There are 3 legislative districts in Anambra State: North, South, and Central. Each district has one senator. In the lower houseâ House of Representatives âÂÂthere are elevenàrepresentativesàrepresenting Anambra East/West, Anaocha/Njikoka/Dunukofia, Aguta, Nnewi North/South/Ekwusigo, Onitsha North/South, Awka North/South, Orumba North/South, Ihiala, Oyi/Ayamelum, Idemili North/South, and Ogbaru.
Created in 1991 when the state was created, it is a unicameral body with 30 elected members who represent 30 constituencies of the state. To be eligible to run, a potential candidate must be at least 21 years of age, and must have lived in their district for at least one year prior to the election, and have lived in Anambra State for two years. They also must be residents of their constituencies. Membership in the Assembly is considered a part-time job, and many members have employment in addition to their legislative work. Assembly members serve two-year terms.
The Assembly is led by the Speaker of the Assembly, who is elected by the members. After the Governor of Anambra State, the Speaker of the Assembly is second in the line of succession to replace the Governor of Anambra State in the event that the governor is unable to execute the duties of that office. The Speaker decides the schedule for the Assembly, which bills will be considered, appoints committee chairmen, and generally runs the Assembly's agenda. The current Speaker is Uchenna Okafor.
The State court system of Anambra State comprises the Anambra State High Court, the magistrate courts, and many lower courts.
The High Court is the highest court in the state. It hears appeals from the magistrate Courts. It has the capacity, rarely exercised, to look into other cases within the judicial and executive branches.
The Court consists of a chief judge appointed by the Governor with recommendation of the National Judicial Council and the appointment confirmed by State Assembly. The chief judge serve an initial seven-year term, after which they can be reappointed to serve until age 70. The Anambra State High Court was created and its role established by the delegates to the Nigerian Constitution of 1999. It is the final judicial authority on all cases in the state court system.