APGA Chief Mocks Ukachukwu Over Abandonment by APC Hierarchy, Cites President’s Owerri Visit
Politics
By Our Correspondent
A chieftain of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Evangelist Chinedu Obigwe, has taken a swipe at the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the forthcoming Anambra governorship election, Nicholas Ukachukwu, alleging that he has been abandoned by the national leadership of his party and sidelined by President Bola Tinubu.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Obigwe described Ukachukwu as a “stranger in APC,” claiming that his initial attempt to leverage his governorship ticket to gain access to the President has since collapsed.
“The only time Ukachukwu met President Tinubu was when the former APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje, packaged him to the Villa for a hurried flag presentation. Since then, he has been declared persona non grata in Aso Rock,” Obigwe alleged.
According to him, majority of APC governors have equally distanced themselves from the businessman-turned-politician, “in line with the body language of the President.”
Obigwe further recalled the controversy surrounding the failed inauguration of Ukachukwu’s national campaign council in Abuja, noting that some prominent names listed on the council had rejected the appointment and refused to identify with the campaign.
“This development forced the APC national leadership to push the inauguration to its Southeast zonal leadership, which eventually installed Ikedife Jnr from Nnewi North as Director General of the campaign organisation. Ukachukwu, Ikedife Jnr, and his running mate, Senator Uche Ekwunife, all hail from Anambra South, making it a kindred campaign structure,” Obigwe said.
He argued that the exclusion of Anambra Central and Anambra North Senatorial Zones from the top hierarchy of the campaign showed “gross insensitivity” and would further weaken Ukachukwu’s chances at the polls.
On President Tinubu’s recent visit to Imo State, Obigwe alleged that Ukachukwu mobilised a rented crowd in a bid to gain attention but was “snubbed by the President.”
“I challenge any of his followers to show proof of him having a handshake with the President during that visit. If they can, I will reward them with ₦1 million,” he declared.
The APGA chieftain maintained that the APC candidate has no realistic chance of victory in the November 8 governorship election, stressing that President Tinubu’s posture suggests he would not interfere with the process in Anambra.
“With what is happening, Ukachukwu already knows that he has lost the election. The votes of Anambra people will count, and Governor Chukwuma Soludo is coasting home to victory because he has delivered good governance,” Obigwe stated.
