Category: Government

Emmanuel Clement 

Ahead of the November 8 governorship election,the Anambra State Governor,Professor Chukwuma Charles Soludo on Friday inaugurated the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) gubernatorial campaign, declaring his administration’s achievements make his re-election inevitable.

The ceremony, attended by top APGA officials and political stakeholders, saw the appointment of Professor Osita Chukwudobelu as Director-General of the campaign council.

Deputy Governor, Dr. Onyekachukwu Ibezim; APGA National Chairman, Barrister Sly Ezeokenwa, former governor and deputy governors, House of Representatives members, Anambra State House of Assembly Speaker Right Honourable Somtochukwu Udeze, Chief of Staff to the Governor, Mr. Ernest Ezeajughi, Chief of Protocol and Deputy Chief of Staff Hon. Chinedu Nwoye, amongst the dignitaries present, demonstrating party cohesion ahead of the election.

Addressing the gathering, Governor Soludo outlined the campaign structure, establishing three key officers for each local government area: a chairman, co-chairman, and secretary.

He announced plans for continued project inspections and direct voter engagement throughout the state, emphasising that work must continue beyond the election.

“It is not about me as an individual but Anambra and ndi Anambra,” Soludo stressed, positioning his candidacy as essential for continued state development.

The governor used the occasion to reinforce the state’s political zoning arrangement, insisting that Anambra South must complete its eight-year tenure before power shifts to Anambra Central, then Anambra North.

“No one should disrupt the zoning formula in Anambra,” Soludo declared. “I can only hand over to a proper full Anambra Central person, not someone married to an Anambra Central person.”

In a pointed critique of his opponents, Soludo suggested some lack basic qualifications. He queried how somebody who does not have a school certificate could be a governor of Anambra State, where the likes of Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, Dr. Alex Ekwueme, Chief Chuba Okadigbo, come from. He said one also parades a fake doctorate degree.

He described last year’s challenges to party unity as unsuccessful attempts by “unknown people” to cause confusion.

He maintained that despite previous crises within APGA, the party had always emerged victorious, noting that the party had never been as united as it currently stands.

Still in his address, the governor also defended recent appointments, including Professor Kate Omenugha as Vice-Chancellor of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, calling her “the best” choice for the position and suggesting some who contested against her lacked proper qualifications.

Professor Chukwudobelu in his opening speech, emphasised the council’s mission, stating they must “take the message to every nook and crannies of the state to ensure the governor is delivered on November 8.” He urged council members to campaign not just for Soludo’s person but his message and vision, warning that “it is not time to relax but work assiduously.”

APGA National Chairman, Barrister Sly Ezeokenwa praised Soludo’s transformative leadership, noting that “anything that receives the Soludo touch becomes positively different.” He expressed confidence that the November election would be a “walkover” based on statistics from the recent Anambra South senatorial by-election, describing all attendees as volunteers in the re-election effort.

Legislative support for the governor’s re-election bid was confirmed by Speaker Somtochukwu Udeze, who assured that “the house is solidly behind him.” The Speaker emphasised that the election concerns “what the people really want” and praised Soludo for changing the state’s narrative since 1999, adding that the House of Assembly is not a “rubber stamp” but focusses on what benefits the people of Anambra.

In similar vein, Honourable Pascal Agbodike, Member representing Ihiala Federal Constituency, described the re-election as already “decided,” calling the campaign council inauguration a formality to “fulfil all righteousness.” He confirmed that all eleven House of Representatives members from the state support Soludo’s candidacy, whether through open campaigning or behind-the-scenes activities.

The APGA BOT Member, Chief Ifeyinwa Obegolu delivered a rousing endorsement of the governor, asserting that “Soludo has no competition because he is working on all fronts.” She insisted that nothing substantial existed before Soludo’s administration, recounting his achievements across health, education, infrastructure, and other sectors whilst urging beneficiaries of various programmes to reciprocate with their votes.

Former Anambra State governor, Dame Virgy Etiaba, lent her support to Soludo’s continued leadership, stating that “everyone has agreed that APGA must continue because of Soludo’s performance.” Her endorsement was reinforced by former Deputy Governor, Sibudu, who, speaking as the Ohaneze Secretary General, argued that any southern governor performing well, regardless of party affiliation, deserves Ohaneze support. He positioned Soludo as precisely such a leader worthy of backing.

The inauguration signals the formal commencement of APGA’s campaign activities, with the party expressing confidence in retaining power based on Soludo’s first-term performance across infrastructure, healthcare, education, and security sectors. The November 8 governorship election will determine whether Soludo secures a second four-year term as Anambra’s chief executive, with the campaign council now tasked with mobilising support across the state’s 21 local government areas.

Emmanuel Clement

The apex Igbo sociocultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide,has expressed deep concern over the abysmal performance of the Southeast region in the recent INEC Online Voters Registration Exercise. 

The region recorded a paltry 1,998 registrations out of 1.3 million nationwide, with Anambra State failing to register a single voter.

In a press release signed by Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro,the Deputy President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo and Chief Thompson Ohia,the National Spokesman Ohanaeze Ndigbo,the apex group stated that the region’s dismal showing is attributed to the failure of its leaders to mobilize and inform citizens about the registration exercise, noting that Ohanaeze Ndigbo holds the Southeast governors, particularly Governor Chukwuma Soludo and former Governor Peter Obi, accountable for the oversight in Anambra State.

“The abysmal performance of the Southeast region—where merely 1,998 eligible voters registered out of a staggering 1.3 million registrations nationwide—is not just a statistical anomaly; it is a profound indictment of our collective leadership.”

“In stark contrast, the Southwest region emerged as the frontrunner, with an astonishing 848,359 new voters registered, followed closely by the North-Central region, which accounted for 250,218 registrations.”

” This disparity is both a wake-up call and a call to arms for us as a people and region, underscoring an urgent need for introspection and decisive action.”

“We hold the political leadership of Anambra State especially Governor Chukwuma Soludo and former Governor Peter Obi accountable for this scandalous oversight. Their failure to effectively inform and mobilize citizens to partake in the electoral process is nothing short of a betrayal of public trust.

 

” The inaction of our leaders during this critical time reflects a gross dereliction of duty—one that cannot and must not be tolerated”they stated.

The group opined that the blame for this collective failure must be shouldered primarily by Southeast governors, who have failed to prioritize the substantive political interests of the Igbo people while instead pursuing divisive, parochial agendas.

Chief Ohia stated that Ohanaeze Ndigbo acknowledges its own shortcomings in this regard, yet they emphasize that this culpability extends beyond political leaders to encompass traditional rulers, civil rights organizations, and other societal influencers who have all played a role in this worrying descent into disenfranchisement.

The organization went further to urge the Ndigbo to participate in the ongoing INEC In-Person Voters Registration Exercise, which will last from August 26, 2025, to August 31, 2026, stating that the failure to register and participate in the electoral process may further marginalize the Southeast region and render it voiceless in the national political landscape.

Ohanaeze Ndigbo firmly asserts that every eligible voter in our midst must immediately engage in the ongoing INEC In-Person Voters Registration Exercise. We unequivocally convey this imperative: the responsibility to register and participate lies not only with the electoral commission but squarely on the shoulders of every Igbo citizen.”

“The evidence indicates that a staggering majority of our electorate remained uninformed and under-mobilized during the recent registration period. Particularly concerning is the fact that Anambra State recorded no registrations at all—a glaring signal of negligence from our political leaders who are tasked with ensuring civic engagement.”

“We hold the political leadership of Anambra State—especially Governor Chukwuma Soludo and former Governor Peter Obi—accountable for this scandalous oversight. Their failure to effectively inform and mobilize citizens to partake in the electoral process is nothing short of a betrayal of public trust. The inaction of our leaders during this critical time reflects a gross dereliction of duty—one that cannot and must not be tolerated.”

“In light of these stark realities, Ohanaeze Ndigbo calls upon the Ndigbo to take their destiny into their own hands. The ongoing INEC In-Person Voters Registration, which will last from August 26, 2025, to August 31, 2026, offers a crucial opportunity to reclaim our political agency.”

“During this pivotal year, we will intensify our advocacy, applying pressure on Southeast governors, Local Government Area Chairmen under ALGON, traditional leaders, religious organizations, civil rights groups, and community leaders to ensure that every eligible citizen registers. It is imperative that we join forces to mobilize our community for robust participation in the upcoming elections in 2027.”

“To neglect this registration opportunity is to court disaster—a path that would leave the Southeast further marginalized and voiceless within a political system that already threatens our collective existence. We can no longer afford to remain passive; we must rise and act decisively.”

“This is, therefore, a clarion call to all Ndigbo across Nigeria: engage actively in the INEC Voters Registration Exercise taking place across all 774 Local Government Areas. Our voices, our votes, and our future depend on it.” the statement reads.