All Progressives Congress governorship aspirant in Anambra State, Valentine Ozigbo, has alleged that Governor Charles Soludo is actively working to prevent him from contesting in the upcoming gubernatorial election.
Speaking on Arise Television’s Morning Show on Tuesday, Ozigbo claimed that Soludo is backing Nicholas Ukachukwu to destabilise the APC in Anambra.
He asserted that the Anambra governor sees him as a political threat and is using Ukachukwu as a tool to block his path.
Ozigbo pointed to the APC primary held on April 5, where Ukachukwu emerged as the party’s flagbearer with 1,455 votes. Ozigbo polled 67 votes, while other aspirants—Edozie Madu and Johnbosco—received 8 and 26 votes, respectively. However, he insisted that the process was manipulated.
According to Ozigbo, “Going from PDP to Labour, you can say it’s about me. I’m somebody who is careful and very purposeful in politics because I understand the importance of political leadership, because that’s the only thing we have to redeem ourselves as a nation.”
“Therefore, I like to insist that things are done properly anywhere I find myself. And this is the reason why I was dismayed over the period from the delegate congress of APC we conducted in Anambra State and where, all of a sudden, we saw a delegate list of people not part of it.”
He added, “Look at what happened. Why did the other three candidates withdraw from the race? This was because they were frustrated. Just on the morning of the congress, another list emanated from nowhere, and at some point, they abandoned all other lists. Why not just allow a free and fair process?”
Ozigbo, who was the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the 2021 governorship election, said he did not challenge Soludo’s victory at that time. Now, he believes the current situation is unjust and undermines the APC’s future in the state.
“I lost the 2021 election to Soludo and I didn’t go to court or challenge him, so why am I fighting him? I’m aware that this is deeply unfair, and I think we are not doing ourselves any right by just folding our hands.”
“My contention in court is to say Nicholas is not even qualified in the first instance to stand for the primary, and I will prove that in court while we go through the process.”
Ozigbo reiterated his claim that Soludo is behind the APC’s internal crisis, stating, “Yes, I made an allegation that Soludo has a hand in what is going on in APC. I say that authoritatively, and I know meetings are being held, but I can tell you that my intelligence is very strong.”
“Here is the point: Soludo is scared of having me on the ballot, and Nicholas Ukachukwu became a willing tool. Over time, you will see this playing out. He became candidate, and over time, people are dissecting the APC, from chairmanship to ward chairmanship. Executives of the party from five local governments have abandoned the party to join others.”
He concluded by calling on President Bola Tinubu to intervene. “This is why we need to draw the attention of Mr. President, that allowing this to fester will deeply weaken and hurt APC for a long time, and that’s why I need to protest.”
