Owerri is the capital city of Imo State in Nigeria, set in the heart of Igboland. It is also the state's largest city, followed by Orlu, Okigwe and Ohaji/Egbema. Owerri consists of three Local Government Areas including Owerri Municipal, Owerri North and Owerri West, it has an estimated population of about 1,401,873 as of 2016 and is approximately 100 square kilometres (40 sq mi) in area. Owerri is bordered by the Otamiri River to the east and the Nworie River to the south. The Owerri Slogan is Heartland.
Okigwe is the third largest city in Imo state in Nigeria after Owerri and Orlu. Okigwe is located in the Okigwe Local Government Area of Nigeria. The city lies between the Port Harcourt-Enugu-Maiduguri rail line, being the nearest city to the biggest cattle market in Nigeria located in the Umu Nneochi Area of Abia state. Thus, the city has grown into a major cattle transit town for the southeast and south subregions of Nigeria. Okigwe has a population of 132,237. Most of the population is made up of immigrant workers from other states. Okigwe city was the primary host site of the old Imo State University. Okigwe has various tourist and historical sites. The Federal Government College in the city has remained one of the best unity schools in Nigeria. Okigwe remains one of the breadbaskets of Nigeria with terrace cultivation practised on its hilly farmlands. Okigwe also boasts many relaxation spots such as Alexandra Suites & Hotels Limited Okigwe Imo state which is situated at No 1 Alexandra Ave, Umuchima Road, Ubahu. St. Mary's Cathedral in Okigwe is the seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Okigwe. In 2016, the Imo state government recommissioned a new cattle market in the city in respect to the previous one that has been relocated to Abia.
Orlu is the second-largest city in South East, Imo State, Nigeria, with a population of 420,600. It has a long history as the headquarters for the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) and humanitarian relief agencies during the Nigeria-Biafra Civil War. The city houses the Nigerian headquarters of the British Cheshire Home. It is the second most developed city after Owerri in Imo state.
Nigeria has 774 local government areas (LGAs), each administered by a local government council consisting of a chairman, who is the chief executive, and other elected members, who are referred to as councillors. Each LGA is further subdivided into a minimum of ten and a maximum of twenty wards. A ward is administered to by a councillor, who reports directly to the LGA chairman. The councillors fall under the legislative arm of the local government, the third tier of government in Nigeria, below the state governments and the federal government.
The Aro people or Aros are an Igbo subgroup that originated from the Arochukwu kingdom in present-day Abia state, Nigeria. The Aros can also be found in about 250 other settlements mostly in the Southeastern Nigeria and adjacent areas. The Aros today are classified as Eastern or Cross River Igbos because of their location, mixed origins, culture, and dialect. Their god, Chukwu Abiama, was a key factor in establishing the Aro Confederacy as a regional power in the Niger Delta and Southeastern Nigeria during the 18th and 19th centuries.
Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport, also known as Imo State Airport, serves Owerri, the capital city of Imo State in southeastern Nigeria. It is located in Ngor Okpala Local Government Area, Imo State.
Amaimo is an autonomous rural town located in Imo State, southeastern Nigeria. It is located near the city of Owerri. Amaimo is located in the North East of Ikeduru Local Government Area. It is bounded on the North by Ehime in Mbano LGA, on the South and East by Ugiri-Ike and Ahiazu in Mbaise; on the North-West by Inyishi and Eziama in Ikeduru Local Government Area, and on the South-West by Amakaohia Ikeduru. Amaimo was ruled by the great late Eze Apollos Anyaso
Anara is a town located in Isiala Mbano, Imo State, Nigeria. It is located about 30 km (20 mi) northeast of Owerri, and connected by a historic road. The town is bordered by Amaraku, Eziama, Abba, amongst other communities. It originated as a settlement made up of eight villages, with Aguna being the oldest of them. Anara's population stands at around 70,000; nevertheless, it is experiencing growth owing to a recent surge in immigration. The town celebrates many festivities, including Anara Day, the Awa festival, and the New Yam festival.
Imo State is a state in the South-East geopolitical zone of Nigeria, bordered to the north by Anambra State, Rivers State to the west and south, and Abia State to the east. It takes its name from the Imo River which flows along the state's eastern border. The state capital is Owerri and the state nickname is the "Eastern Heartland."
Obowo, also spelled Obowu is a Local Government Area in Imo State, Nigeria formed during the Ibrahim Babangida administration in May 1989. It was carved out of Etiti Local Government Area with its headquarters at Isi Nweke. There are twenty-two autonomous communities in Obowo Local Government Area. Achara, Amanze, Umuariam, Umunachi, Umuagu, Ehume, Umungwa, Umulogho, Odenkwume, Okwuohia, Amuzi, Alike, Avutu, Umuosochie and Umuoke are towns in the L.G.A. Obowo is located about 45 minutes from Owerri, across the Imo River and is less than 30 minutes from the Umuahia and Ahiara in opposite directions with the Amanze seven and a half (71/2) junction and landmark in-between. It is surrounded by Ahiazu and Aboh Mbaise Local Government Areas to the north and Umuahia Abia State to the East.
Nnarambia is a town in Ahiara, Imo state, Nigeria. It is made up of five hamlets: Ama-obu, Amakpaka, Umuezereugwu, Umunnachi, and Ofor na Obia.
Ikwuano is a Local Government Area of Abia State, Nigeria. Its headquarters is in Isiala Oboro. The name 'Ikwuano' etymologically indicates that there are four different ancient kingdoms that make up the community called Ikwuano. These include Oboro, Ibere, Ariam/Usaka and Oloko.
Isiala-Ngwa North is a Local Government Area of Abia State, Nigeria. Its headquarters is Okpuala-Ngwa.
Ahiazu Mbaise is a Local Government Area of Imo State, Nigeria. It is as a result of a merger between Ahiara and Ekwerazu. Its headquarters are in the town of Afo oru. There are fourteen (14) towns that make up Ahiazu Mbaise. They include; Mpam, Ihitte Afor, Opara-Nadim, Akabor, Ogwuama/Amuzi, Obodo-Ujichi, Otulu/Aguneze, Umu-OKrika, Obohia, Ekwereazu, Obodo-Ahiara, Lude/Nnara-Mbia, Ogbe, Oru - Ahiara. The 12 wards in Ahiazu Mbaise local government area are: Amuzi/Ihenworie, Mpam, Nnarambia, Obohia/Ekwereazu, Ogbe, Ogbor/Umueze, Okrika Nweke, Okrika Nwenkwo, Oparanadim, Oru-na-Lude, Otulu/Aguneze, Umunumo/Umuchieze.
Nwangele is a Local Government Area of Imo State, Nigeria. The name was derived from the popular Nwangele river which marks the boundary between Amaigbo and Umuozu Isu. The river which is believed to have originated from Isiekenesi town passes through several villages in Amaigbo and empties into Oramiriukwa a tributary of Imo river. Its headquarter is in Amaigbo.
Owerri North is a Local Government Area of Imo State, Nigeria. Its headquarters are in the town of Orie Uratta. It has an area of 198 square km and a population of 175,395 at the 2006 census. The postal code of the area is 460. Owerri North is semi-urban government area. It encircles Owerri Municipal like a peninsula. Six major roads that lead out of the municipal cuts across Owerri North Communities. In the North, Orlu road leads to Amakaohia and Akwakuma communities. In the East, Okigwe road leads to Orji Community. In the West, MCC road off Wetheral to Obibi Uratta and Ihitaoha communities. In the South, Mbaise road leads to Egbu and Emekuku communities, while Aba road leads to Naze, Agbala and Ulakwo communities.
Okohia is a community in the Isiala Mbano Local Government Area of Imo State, Nigeria, at an altitude of about 211 m.
Miriam Odinaka Onuoha is a politician of the All Progressives Congress from Imo State, Nigeria. She is a member of the House of Representatives of Nigeria from Okigwe North federal constituency. She won re-election into the federal house of representatives in January 2020. Obinna Onwubuariri of the PDP was declared winner for the 2019 election, but the national assembly election petition tribunal in Owerri in September 2019, sacked Obinna Onwubuariri, and ordered a fresh election for January 2020. She won re-election after an election petition tribunal sitting in August 2020 upheld her victory in the January 2020 elections.
The 2023 Nigerian Senate elections in Imo State will be held on 25 February 2023, to elect the 3 federal Senators from Imo State, one from each of the state's three senatorial districts. The elections will coincide with the 2023 presidential election, as well as other elections to the Senate and elections to the House of Representatives; with state elections being held two weeks later. Primaries were held between 4 April and 9 June 2022.
The 2023 Nigerian presidential election in Imo State will be held on 25 February 2023 as part of the nationwide 2023 Nigerian presidential election to elect the president and vice president of Nigeria. Other federal elections, including elections to the House of Representatives and the Senate, will also be held on the same date while state elections will be held two weeks afterward on 11 March.
