By: Chukwudi Okafor
With Ndi Anambra growing increasingly frustrated by APGA and Governor Soludo’s poor handling of governance , majority of disenchanted Anambrarians are now yearning for change. They are desperate to break with tradition and are turning to the Labour Party hoping to find a candidate who resonates with their aspirations and can lead them to victory in the crucial Anambra Governorship election set for November 2025.
Labour Party has a certain ideology and is approaching the Anambra 2025 elections with a clear agenda. While Ndi Anambra realize this, they are also concerned about the development of the state and local issues. They want a candidate who can address their problems, a candidate with character and reliability, unlike the current governor. On the other hand, the Labour Party wants to field a candidate with a strong chance of winning, with characteristics of integrity and performance.
An aspirant who possesses good qualities and a clean image is always welcome in the party. Labour Party needs that type of candidate who has a vision for the development of the state, who can lead the party to the forefront. I strongly recommend that the Labour Party should rely on such an aspirant. Undoubtedly, a party may influence a candidate, but a voter gets influenced by the persona of a candidate.
I wondered what was drawing young people to the Labour Party in Anambra and it turned out that it’s the prospect of Valentine Ozigbo as the party’s candidate in the next election.
Valentine Ozigbo has the demeanor of Mr. Peter Obi, and the young people see many of the former governor’s attributes in him and are following him. He is the candidate who closely relates to the young people, being a young man himself. His VCO Foundation, his role as Chairman of Feet ‘N’ Tricks, his avid love for and promotion of Freestyle Football, and his position as a board member of the prestigious WFFA (World Freestyle Football Association) also constantly keep him connected with the youth. He is the only candidate who has been very vocal about the issues bedeviling Anambra and has been offering solutions to Soludo’s quasi-solution government through his media series.
The Labour Party chieftain Valentine Ozigbo’s polling momentum continues to chug along, with 65 per cent of Ndi Anambra saying he’s the best choice to be Governor, according to a new local poll. The percentage of respondents who think the LP chieftain is the best choice to become governor went up 9 points since March 2024 after Soludo’s two years in office, with 65 percent of respondents saying he’s the best choice to lead the Anambra state government.
On core issues facing Anambra around the economy, health care, and security, the poll found a plurality of Ndi Anambra think Valentine Ozigbo has the best plans across all three areas.
If the Labour Party candidate were to be chosen by popular vote, the 54-year-old former President of Transcorp Plc would be the clear favorite. Known for his direct no-nonsense style, the former PDP governorship candidate in the Anambra 2021 election has said he is keen to take on vested interests to drive growth through digitalization, overhaul Anambra’s economic policy, and bring a safer Anambra.
When you consider why Ndi Anambra feel the way they do right now, there’s real dissatisfaction with the direction of the state, particularly regarding the big issues on their personal agendas – security, jobs, health, etc. Anambra voters have confidence in Valentine Ozigbo because they know he will never be persuaded or frightened by threats to his principles.
Anambra Labour Party can no longer deny it. The most articulate aspirant is surging in the polls, the fiery leader set on burning Governor Soludo’s one-minute solutions to the ground, and is the favorite to win the state’s next election.
If we want to win the war, we need to pick a man who will lead us to victory, someone who can advocate for reform and is willing to tackle the system’s faults as he is already doing in the interest of our people.
Valentine Ozigbo appears to be building a winning coalition that bridges different parties in the state. The election will come late next year, and when that time comes, Soludo’s team shouldn’t be surprised if they’re the betting underdog.
A number of potential rivals to Valentine Ozigbo have emerged in LP, including great men such as Senator Tony Nwoye, George Muoghalu, Paul Orajaka, Barth Nwibe, etc. This is a difficult road for the LP, but we must always go with the best option, even if it means deciding between several good options. We must make a choice based on what is best for the people and our great party.
It is clear that if we conduct our checks and balances in a respectful and objective manner, Valentine Ozigbo is the best choice for the position. He has demonstrated remarkable leadership qualities and has the appropriate strategy in place for a greater victory. He is a selfless follower and a good listener. He has shown us how unselfish he is and how unorthodox a gentleman he is to lead us into the future.
Despite these facts, it is the Labour Party that will make that choice. The enormous responsibility has been given to them. However, to win the Anambra 2025 governorship election, Valentine Ozigbo remains the biggest bet.
I have every confidence that Valentine Ozigbo can do what former governor Mr. Peter Obi did for our state, and that’s to build a more prosperous Anambra, a more secure Anambra, and a more united Anambra.
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