The political landscape in Anambra State is heating up as the 2025 governorship election draws closer. Nicholas Ukachukwu, the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, recently claimed that President Bola Tinubu had personally mandated him to deliver Anambra State to the APC. This claim, made during a welcome reception at the Chinua Achebe Airport, where Ukachukwu also unveiled his running mate, Senator Uche Ekwunife, has sparked controversy and drawn a sharp rebuke from the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).
Ukachukwu’s assertion that the President instructed him to “connect Anambra to the centre” was interpreted as a direct call to action for his supporters. He emphasized the importance of grassroots mobilization, urging his followers to spread the message and secure victory for the APC in the upcoming election. This declaration, however, has been met with skepticism and outright dismissal by the ruling APGA, which currently holds the governorship under Professor Chukwuma Soludo.
The APGA, through its National Coordinator of the Media Warriors Forum, Chinedu Obigwe, issued a strong statement challenging Ukachukwu’s claims. Obigwe questioned Ukachukwu’s authority to speak on behalf of the President, emphasizing that such pronouncements should come from designated spokespersons like Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser on Media to the President. He further cast doubt on Ukachukwu’s ability to deliver on this supposed mandate, citing his past electoral defeats, particularly his loss to the late Senator Ifeanyi Ubah in the 2023 Anambra South Senatorial election.
Obigwe’s statement went beyond questioning Ukachukwu’s credibility, directly addressing the feasibility of the APC’s aspirations in Anambra. He expressed confidence in Governor Soludo’s popularity and projected a resounding victory for the incumbent in the November 8, 2025 election. He dismissed Ukachukwu’s ambition as an “impossible mission,” asserting that the people of Anambra would overwhelmingly support Soludo and resist any attempts at electoral manipulation.
The APGA spokesperson further argued that Anambra is already well-connected to the federal government under Governor Soludo’s leadership. He pointed to President Tinubu’s recent visit to Anambra, during which the President reportedly approved several requests made by Soludo for the state’s development. This, according to Obigwe, is a clear indication of the positive working relationship between the governor and the President, regardless of their differing party affiliations. He reiterated that Soludo’s focus remains on the continued progress and transformation of Anambra State.
The unfolding political drama in Anambra sets the stage for a potentially intense gubernatorial race. Ukachukwu’s claim of presidential backing, though disputed, adds a layer of intrigue to the contest. The APGA, however, remains steadfast in its belief that Governor Soludo’s performance and popularity will ultimately determine the outcome, predicting a comfortable victory for the incumbent and a continuation of his vision for the state. The upcoming election promises to be a crucial test of the political dynamics in Anambra, with both the APC and APGA vying for the mandate to lead the state for the next four years.
