Soludo Is Funding Ukachukwu to Weaken Anambra APC, Only Way to Prove It Is for Us to Swear – Ozigbo

Valentine Ozigbo, a former aspirant in the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primary in Anambra State, has alleged that Governor Chukwuma Soludo is secretly funding Senator Nicholas Ukachukwu, who recently emerged as the APC’s candidate for the November 8, 2025 election. Ozigbo made the claim during an appearance on Politics Today on Channels Television, where he also voiced strong discontent with the conduct of the party’s April 5 primary.

Ukachukwu won the APC primary with 1,455 votes, defeating Ozigbo and other contenders. Ozigbo, who polled 67 votes, rejected the outcome and described the process as deeply flawed. He alleged irregularities in delegate accreditation and vote counting, claiming the primary was manipulated to deliver a predetermined result. In a statement posted on April 8, he called the exercise “a well-orchestrated heist” and a “fraud against Ndi Anambra.”

During the interview, Ozigbo made a bold accusation that Governor Soludo of the ruling All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) was financially backing Ukachukwu to weaken the APC’s chances. “Soludo is funding Nicholas to weaken the APC. And the only way we can prove this is to invite us to your show and bring a Bible to swear,” he said, insisting the claim could not be easily proven by conventional means.

Ozigbo, the former Labour Party candidate who ran against Soludo in the 2021 governorship election, suggested that Soludo feared a potential rematch. “I defeated Soludo in 2021. He knows why he is scared of me becoming a candidate, but I was rigged out,” he claimed. He reiterated his commitment to pursuing justice within the APC and indicated he had petitioned the party’s Appeals Committee to challenge the outcome.

He also questioned Ukachukwu’s political record, saying, “Who is Nicholas Ukachukwu? How come he has never won anything since his time at the House of Representatives?” Ozigbo noted the irony of candidates he previously outperformed now appearing to surpass him.

In response, Ukachukwu dismissed Ozigbo’s grievances during a separate televised interview, suggesting the former Labour Party member entered the APC race from a “disadvantaged position.”

The APC primary itself was marred by controversy, with three top aspirants—Sir Paul Chukwuma, Professor Obiora Okonkwo, and Hon. Chuma Umeoji—withdrawing over transparency concerns. Other aspirants, Edozie Madu and Johnbosco Onunkwo, received eight and 26 votes respectively.

Meanwhile, other parties have concluded their primaries ahead of the November election. Governor Soludo emerged unopposed in the APGA primary, securing 3,171 out of 3,175 delegate votes. The Labour Party nominated George Moghalu, who defeated John Nwosu by 573 to 19 votes.

As of the time of reporting, Governor Soludo has not publicly responded to Ozigbo’s allegations. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has confirmed the Anambra governorship election will take place on November 8, 2025.