Chukwuemeka Ihedioha

Chukwuemeka Ihedioha was born on 24 March 1965 in Mbutu, Aboh Mbaise Local Government Area of Imo State.

He attended primary education at Town School Mbutu and SDA Primary School Abule Oja, Yaba before proceeding to St. Ephraim’s Secondary School, Owerrinta (now in Abia State).

At the University of Lagos, he obtained a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc) degree in Food Science and Technology in 1988.

He later earned executive certificates in financial management from Stanford University and leadership from Harvard Kennedy School of Government.

In 1992, Ihedioha was appointed press officer to the Senate President of Nigeria. A year later, he became chief press secretary to the Deputy Senate President.

After a military intervention in his homeland in November 1993, he returned to communications as CEO of First Page Communications.

He played a key role in establishing and promoting the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the early 1990s, serving as its Director of Publicity.

Between 1998–2001, he held multiple senior roles under Nigeria’s federal government, including special assistant to the Presidential Adviser on Utilities, and media/publicity advisor to the Senate President and Vice President.

In 2003, Ihedioha won a seat in the House of Representatives for Aboh Mbaise-Ngor Okpala Federal Constituency. He served as deputy speaker from 2011–2015.

From 2003 to 2007, he chaired the House Committee on Marine Transport, advancing critical maritime legislation like ratification acts for safety and pollution prevention conventions.

Re-elected in 2007, he later became chief whip of the House, overseeing committee work on cooperation and integration in Africa.

As governor of Imo State (2019–2020), Ihedioha implemented policies such as the Treasury Single Account (TSA) and Open Government System. His anti-corruption efforts earned him recognition as one of Nigeria’s least corrupt states during his tenure, with a reported corruption prevalence rate of 17.6%.

He enacted 17 laws while in office and oversaw significant infrastructural projects.

Ihedioha is married to Ebere Ihedioha and has four children. His business interests span real estate, industrialized farming, hospitality, power, and petroleum sectors.

A philanthropist rooted in Imo State, he supports Arsenal Football Club, enjoys traveling and table tennis, and holds the National Honor of Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON).

He briefly served as acting speaker for Sokoto State upon Aminu Tambuwal’s swearing-in in 2015.

Born at Mbutu in Aboh Mbaise Local Government Area, Ihedioha is an Igbo ethnic group member and has represented the same constituency since 2003.