Anambra State Governor Charles Soludo has nominated Esther Onyekesi as Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development.
Mrs Onyekesi is the mother of late businessman Martin Onyekesi, also known as “Fish Magnet”, who was killed in 2025 after being abducted in Awka. His death followed a kidnapping incident in which his body was later found before ransom was paid.
The killing led to protests in the state, including demonstrations linked to the incident.
Onyekesi, who served as Women Leader of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Anambra, said at the time that the matter was not political.
Her name appeared on a list of 18 commissioner nominees sent to the Anambra State House of Assembly for screening.
The Speaker of the House Somtochukwu Udeze received the list during plenary on Tuesday and referred it to a committee for screening and confirmation.
The nominees cover several ministries, including Agriculture, Budget and Economic Planning, Education, Health, Information, Justice, Lands, Local Government and others.
Other nominees include Afam Obidike for Health, Law Mefor for Information and Value Reformation, Tobechukwu Nweke for Justice, and Vin Ezeaka for Local Government and Community Affairs.
Also on the list are Charles Ofoegbu for Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Chijioke Ojukwu for Physical Planning, Casmir Agummadu for Power, Okey Ezeobi for Works, Eddy Ibuzo for Transport and Patrick Agha for Youth Development and Sports.
The state assembly will screen the nominees before confirmation.
