A former Military Administrator of Cross River State, Navy Capt. Christopher Osondu (Rtd.), has been sworn in as the new Transition Committee Chairman of Isuikwuato local government area of Abia State.

He was among the nine newly appointed Transition Committee Chairmen whose litmus test would be to ensure the smooth conduct of the re-run elections slated for March 5, 2015 in the state.

The new local government helmsmen were sworn-in today by the Abia State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, at the Executive Chamber Government House, Umuahia.

The other TC Chairmen include Mrs Gladys Nwachukwu (Aba North), Abraham Amah (Arochukwu), Pastor Okechukwu Dike (Bende) and Sampson Anagha (Ohafia)

The rest include Jerry Awah (Ikwuano), Ugochukwu Allen Nwachukwu Jnr (Osisioma) Randy Ukanwoke (Umuahia South) and Christian Udo (Umunneochi)

After the oath of office had been administered on them, Ikpeazu charged the new TC Chairmen to galvanise support for his administration at the grassroots.

The governor said that his administration is interested in primary healthcare, pointing out that as the leading state in immunisation in the country, they should supervise the programme closely to maintain the lead.

According to him, his administration is passionate about market management as he decried the bad shape of most rural markets which were not good for business and tasked the new chairmen to take stock of such markets and report back to him within 14 days so that process of reconstructing them would begin.

The governor further charged the TC chairmen to identify the poorest schools in their local governments where government could commence the Friends of Abia Schools Adoption Initiative.

He equally charged them to beef up security in their areas to avoid any security breach and called on them to remain loyal to the government at all times.

Responding on behalf of his colleagues, Navy Capt. (Rtd.), thanked Governor Ikpeazu for finding them fit to serve and promised to justify the confidence he reposed in them by replicating his projects at their various councils.

•Photo shows Governor Ikpeazu.