By Our Correspondent
The Catholic Church in Anambra State has strongly denied a report claiming it issued conditions to support the All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial candidate, Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu, describing the story as “planted by desperate politicians” and “false in its entirety.”
The report, published by a national daily on Friday, April 18, 2025, alleged that the Church demanded that the APC candidate select a Catholic as running mate and appoint a cabinet with 60 percent Catholic representation as a condition for endorsement.
It also claimed that former Senators Uche Ekwunife and Margery Okadigbo were being considered for the deputy slot in line with these alleged demands.
Reacting swiftly to the publication, prominent Catholic priest and spiritual leader, Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Obimma, popularly known as Ebube Muonso, dismissed the claims as fabrication.
“It is clearly planted by desperate politicians. Politicians are free to come to us for blessing but that doesn’t translate to endorsement or giving of conditions for support towards 2025,” he said.
Meanwhile church insiders, who spoke on the incident, insist that while the Catholic Church remains an influential moral voice in Anambra, it does not issue political endorsements based on denominational quotas.
However, an Awka-based analyst, Chibuike Obumneme stated that “there is no way the Church would leave its own and support a non-denominational candidate. If Ukachukwu were to even be an Anglican or a major pentecostal denomination, the discussion could be entertained.”
A political commentator Emeka Okoronkwo, himself a Catholic, echoed the same stance.
“We have seen enough to know that the worst child of God is better than the best child of the devil,” he said.
“Of course, this is not to mean that only Catholics are children of God—don’t misquote me.”
A source who spoke under condition of anonimity alleged that the motive behind the report is to create confusion within the APC and pressure its candidate, Nicholas Ukachukwu, to select a particular deputy.
“Where did they stand to give this condition?” one Pentecostal cleric, who spoke to our newspaper on the condition of anonymity, asked.
Insiders within the APC allege that the report was orchestrated by a female politician( name withheld), a known political operator and aspirant for the deputy position- a desperado.
There are indications that Ukachukwu’s emergence as the APC’s standard-bearer has strained the party’s ties with key religious and community groups.
Also, there are growing fears that if APC mishandles the ticket, the Church could swing back to support incumbent Governor Chukwuma Soludo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), himself a Catholic.
The disputed report comes amid heightened political maneuvering as the 2025 Anambra gubernatorial election draws near.
Observers note that religious identity, zoning, gender balance, and regional alliances are increasingly weaponised by political actors seeking advantage.
While both Okadigbo and Ekwunife are Catholic, zoning and reputational considerations may affect their chances.
“Okadigbo hails from Anambra North, which recently produced a two-term governor, while Ekwunife, who is from the Central, is seen as Soludo’s mole in the APC and her fractured relationship with Linus Ukachukwu, the elder brother of the APC flag bearer is working against her,” an influential APC chieftain told our newspaper.
As tensions build within the APC and the race for running mate intensifies, Church leaders have called for restraint and truthfulness, urging politicians not to drag religious institutions into partisan politics.
“We stand for truth, justice and the good of all,” a priest said.
“But we will not allow the Church to be used as a pawn in political games.”
