The Anambra State Government has dismissed viral social media reports alleging that Governor Chukwuma Soludo renamed Abakaliki Street to Club Street, describing the claims as false, misleading, and politically motivated.
In an official statement released on Tuesday, the state’s Commissioner for Information, Dr. Law Mefor, clarified that the renaming of Abakaliki Street actually occurred during the administration of former Governor Willie Obiano, not under Soludo’s leadership.
“The truth is that the renaming of Abakaliki Street to Club Street and the assigning of an adjacent street to Abakaliki Street occurred under the administration of former Governor Willie Obiano,” Mefor stated.
The controversy was sparked by comments made by M.O. Idam, Esq., who accused Soludo of being behind the street renaming.
Mefor responded by advising Idam to retract his statement, citing a failure to carry out proper research or fact-checking.
“It is expected that a lawyer ought to have done research and fact-checking before going public with such wild, malicious, and false claims,” Mefor said.
The commissioner suggested that the allegations were part of a coordinated disinformation effort aimed at tarnishing Governor Soludo’s image, especially as the November 8 governorship election approaches.
“We reassure Ndị Anambra that Governor Soludo will continue to exercise the powers they bestowed on him through their popular mandate responsibly… leading to the clamour across the length and breadth of Anambra State for his reelection,” the statement read.
Mefor further criticized Idam’s focus on Anambra affairs, urging him to instead “pay more attention to his own state—if he exists and is not a phantom.”
Abakaliki Street, presumably named to reflect cultural ties between Anambra and Ebonyi states, has symbolic significance.
Any attempt—or perceived attempt—to rename it has sparked intense debate online, with critics arguing it disrespects interstate harmony.
The government’s strong pushback reflects growing concerns over fake news and politically motivated misinformation in Nigeria’s digital and political space.
The clarification reaffirms Governor Soludo’s commitment to transparency, responsible leadership, and avoiding needless political distractions in the build-up to his re-election campaign.
