The Abia State Government has announced plans to hold a solemn assembly and covenant renewal service on September 24, 2026, to thank God for His faithfulness to the state and renew its commitment to Him.
The Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, disclosed this on Friday, at a joint press conference held at Government House, Umuahia, alongside the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs and Coordinator of the programme, Prince Uzor Nwachukwu.
Prince Kanu explained that the initiative was inspired by the administration’s belief in seeking divine direction and entrusting the affairs of the state to God.
He noted that Abia had remained under God’s care before, during and after the 2023 elections, stressing that the government considered it appropriate to return to God in thanksgiving and prayer as the state approaches another electoral season.
“Now that an election is approaching, we believe it’s only fitting to seek God’s face once more and to rededicate this state into God’s hands, to ensure that the peace and prosperity we’ve always enjoyed over these past three years will continue,” Kanu stated.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs and coordinator of the solemn assembly and covenant renewal service, Prince Uzor Nwachukwu, announced that the theme of the programme is “Remembering the Covenant.”
He said the event would take place at the JAAC Secretariat Auditorium, Umuahia.
According to him, the spiritual activities would commence with a three day fasting and prayer programme from September 21 to 23, during which churches across the state would observe the exercise in their various locations.
Prince Nwachukwu added that the programme would be followed by thanksgiving services in churches across the state. He explained that the Seventh-Day Adventist Church would hold its thanksgiving on Saturday, September 26, while other churches are expected to observe theirs on Sunday, September 27, 2026.
He said the programme was designed to appreciate God’s faithfulness to Abia, offer thanksgiving and seek divine guidance, peace and prosperity for the state as it enters another electoral season.
Reflecting on Abia’s past, Prince Nwachukwu recalled what he described as difficult periods marked by insecurity, poor governance and underdevelopment, noting that residents had repeatedly cried out to God for deliverance.
He said the prayers and determination of the people eventually contributed to the political change that produced the present administration in 2023, recalling the widespread jubilation that followed the declaration of Dr. Alex Otti as Governor as an indication of the people’s yearning for a new direction.
“For all those who have been in Abia, the story of our state is well known to all and the journey thus far, to where we are is known to all too.
“This state is called God’s own state, not by mistake but by divine orchestrations. And God has showed that he is faithful to the cries and to the call of His people. From the time of our creation as a state in 1991, the years following, I want to say that the various leaders had given their best, tried all they could.
“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 shrine for allegiance. And it became a national embarrassment over a state called in the name of God that they are paying allegiance to all sorts of things.
“For all those number of years, there were a lot of things that were not working well. Our state became known for, for bad governance and underdevelopment, if not lack of development at all.
“And so that led to a lot of people showing concern and cries were sent to heaven. People cried, people rode on the streets. I believe that God had those cries and went into the hearts of people. So people had to leave their comfort zones to come out and say, let’s play our part to help our people.
“God heard the prayer. 2015 elections came, went the way it went. We persisted. 2019, we persisted. At the third trial, I believe it was the God of Trinity that showed forth his mighty power at the third time and broke the chain of enslavement,”
“This is the background of this program. That’s why we have christened it a solemn assembly,” Prince Nwachukwu narrated.
The Commissioner recalled that the state government subsequently declared a seven-day fasting and prayer programme in 2023, coordinated by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), which culminated in the rededication of Abia at Ngwa High School, Aba.
He explained that during the 2023 exercise, the state’s political leadership and traditional rulers entered into a covenant with God, pledging to serve Him and work in the interest of the people.
Prince Nwachukwu said, “That same God, we need to go and thank Him for thus far He has led us, our Ebenezer, and renew this covenant and bring ourselves before Him.”
He stressed that unlike the 2023 rededication service, which was held as an open-field gathering, the forthcoming solemn assembly would be restricted to invited individuals and groups.
Those expected to attend, according to him, include the Governor and Deputy Governor, the First Lady, elected government officials at the federal, state and local government levels, political appointees, Permanent Secretaries, Directors, Deputy Directors, Heads of Service of Local Government Areas, Treasurers, traditional rulers and church leaders.
Prince Nwachukwu further disclosed that prominent Christian ministers had been invited to lead various aspects of the programme.
He said Rev. Dr. Sam Oye would minister the Word, while Prophet Isa El-Buba would lead intercessory prayers for the state.
Also expected is Apostle Ofo Nzimiro, whom the Commissioner described as a man of God who played a significant role in establishing the covenant during the 2023 rededication.
He added that Archbishops, Bishops and other senior Christian leaders in the state would also participate fully in the programme.
Prince Nwachukwu urged Abians to view the solemn assembly as an opportunity to acknowledge God’s faithfulness and commit the future of the state into His hands.
He said, “A man may make his plans, but if God be not with you, you walk in vain,” stressing that the administration believes that human efforts must be complemented by divine guidance.
