By Our Reporter
Labour Party (LP) governorship hopeful in the 2025 Anambra State gubernatorial election, Mr Valentine Ozigbo has said he was not relying on LP presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, Mr. Peter Obi to install him as governor of the state.
He also promised to surpass achievements of Obi as former governor of the state.
Speaking weekend in Onitsha at a meeting with LP stakeholders from Anambra North Senatorial Zone, Ozigbo who officially informed his audience of his ambition to run for the poll, appealed to the party faithful to support his ambition.
Ozigbo who was the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the 2021 governorship election also said he would be Anambra state candidate and not Peter Obi’s candidate.
Although I’m a great believer and supporter of our leader, Mr. Peter Obi, I’m not relying on him to install me as governor
“I don’t want to be Peter Obi’s candidate, I want to be Anambra state candidate.”
Meanwhile, over 200 members of the ruling All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, in Anambra state have left the party and joined the Labour Party, LP.
They said their actions were to ensure the incumbent governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo was not re-elected for a second term as governor.
The decampees, mainly APGA members in Ogbaru local government area of the state were received at the Onitsha Holiday Resort field at the weekend by LP chairman, Ogbaru local government area, Chief Emeka Nwosu.
Others as the occasion were member representing Ogbaru federal constituency in the House of Representatives and leader LP Caucus in the House of Representatives, Hon. Afam Ogene; LP governorship aspirant in the coming 2025 Anambra state governorship election, Mr. Valentine Ozigbo and several other party stalwarts in the local government.
Leader of the APGA decampees and former aspirant for Ogbaru 1 constituency of the state House of Assembly under the party’s platform during the 2023 general election, Hon. Ndubuisi Igwilo re-echoed that their decision to dump APGA to frustrate Soludo’s second term bid.
He accused Soludo of working against Obi’s presidential ambition during the 2023 general, just as he flayed the governor over what he described as poor performance in the past two years of his administration.
He said, “I was formerly in APGA, but currently in the Labour Party. I led the decampees into the LP. We decided to leave APGA to join the LP because as you can see the LP is the party for the people and most of the elected members are at the center too.
“Our principal, Mr Peter Obi, has shown good character and good example in the LP and we are here to support him in his pursuit for a country that is working for all of us.
“We left APGA because the slogan, ‘APGA bu nke ayi’ has become a mere statement and the promises they gave us in Anambra last time are not being fulfilled and that is why the people are disillusioned. He has failed in his promises, he did not even do one.
“He promised us he would conduct local government elections after two years as governor in office, but this is going to three years, he has failed to do that, and, he is looking for another tenure, it doesn’t make sense. Any politician that made promises during election and failed should not be giving another opportunity.
“I think it’s high time for Ndi Anambra to try another party and see what they can do because nothing tangible is happening in Anambra. The roads he is building are things a local government chairman can do if election is conducted.
“It is not an achievement that a governor will come and do borehole and be announcing it all over the places, I, myself I can do borehole for the people. These are things individuals can do.
“My expectations are high as we joined the Labour Party, the Labour Party elected officials are really doing well, those at the house of Assembly forfeited their six months salaries for the people, all across the country, LP officials are really doing very well.”
Receiving the decampees, Ozigbo expressed joy over the action of the decampees and said that he had been vindicated in his assessment of Soludo as having failed the state.
Also speaking, Member representing Ogbaru federal constituency and Caucus leader of LP lawmakers in the House of Representatives, Hon Afam Ogene commended the decampees for their courage and act of patriotism in joining the party.
