By Our Correspondent
The Ozigbo Campaign Organization has accused Chief Nicholas Ukachukwu, an All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant in Anambra State, of hiring thugs to bar delegates perceived as disloyal to him from entering the party’s primary electiony venue at Beautiful Gate Hotel, Awka.
Eyewitnesses reported that thugs were seen denying entry to delegates without Ukachukwu’s tags, while police officers allegedly stood by as some delegates were physically harassed.
This development has raised concerns about the integrity of the primary process, crucial to determining the APC’s chances in the November 2025 Anambra governorship election.
Party stakeholders are urging the APC national leadership to intervene, ensure delegate safety, and restore order to the accreditation and voting process.
Ephraim Adiele, spokesman for the Ozigbo Campaign Organization, condemned the incident, saying, “We reject the politics of violence and call for a level playing field. Clearly, Ukachukwu is seeking to hijack the primaries, and it cannot stand. The APC leadership should act now to prevent a crisis.”
Dr. Val Oliobi, APC State Publicity Secretary, confirmed the incident, condemning it as unrepresentative of the party’s values. He also accused the police of aiding Ukachukwu’s supporters.
Eyewitness accounts corroborate the allegations, with one delegate describing being physically assaulted by thugs in full view of the police.
An observer, who wished to remain anonymous, expressed concern about the situation’s gravity and potential security implications, questioning why the police seemed to be collaborating with the thugs.
The APC leadership is yet to respond, while many rival delegates have left the scene due to the chaos [No sources were found to support claims within this prompt. If claims are unfounded or disputed, the story may change.
