Chinedum Treasure
Leading aspirant in the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship race in Anambra State, Valentine Ozigbo has condemned the April 5 party primary.
He described the exercise as a “charade” and a “theft against Ndi Anambra.”
In a public statement released on Tuesday, April 8, 2025, Ozigbo confirmed that he has filed a formal petition before the APC Gubernatorial Primary Appeals Committee.
He alleged that the process that produced Mr Nicholas Ukachukwu as the party’s flagbearer was riddled with fraud, irregularities and violations of democratic norms.
“Yesterday, I formally submitted a petition to the Appeals Committee of our great party. That exercise, by all observable standards, was a charade, a well-orchestrated heist designed to deliver a predetermined outcome,” Ozigbo wrote.
Citing widespread manipulation, voter exclusion, and non-transparency in vote counting, Ozigbo said the process violated not only internal party rules but also the broader expectations of fairness and accountability in a democratic system.
Ozigbo, who joined the APC in February after a stint in the Labour Party and a formidable 2021 governorship run under the PDP, positioned his protest as a defence of democratic values, not a personal grievance.
“This is not just about me. It is about the soul of our democracy. About the values we claim to represent. About the future we owe our children,” he wrote, adding that the “sham of April 5” was a “fraud against me” but more critically “a theft against Ndi Anambra.”
Ozigbo is widely regarded as one of the most formidable contenders in Anambra politics, boasting widespread youth support, a clean image, and a unique ability to bridge Nigeria’s corporate and political landscapes.
Analysts note that he is the only APC aspirant with a recent electoral base and cross-party appeal capable of unseating incumbent Governor Charles Soludo in the November election.
In a tone that was equal parts defiant and inspirational, Ozigbo affirmed his decision to remain within the APC and continue the fight from inside the party.
“I will not be distracted. I will not run to the Senate, nor will I pivot to another political opportunity for the sake of ambition. I will stand firm, here, in the APC, and I will fight this good fight to its just end,” he declared.
Rejecting political expediency, Ozigbo emphasised that his foray into politics has always been about service, not power.
“I am not a transactional politician… I seek [power] to make a difference — to restore dignity, create jobs, secure lives, and light a path for the next generation.”
Ozigbo invoked global and biblical liberation struggles — from the U.S. Civil Rights Movement to Mandela’s long walk to freedom — to frame his own campaign as part of a larger battle for justice and transformation in Anambra State.
“Oppression always fights back before it breaks. That is what we are witnessing today: the dying kicks of a system scared of change,” he said, warning party leaders that “the future cannot be bribed or bullied. The people are watching. History is recording.”
Addressing the national leadership of the APC directly, Ozigbo urged the party to rectify what he described as a grave error.
“This election is a defining moment — not just for Anambra, but for the credibility of our party and the soul of our nation. The Party still has a chance to right this wrong and present a candidate who can truly win and govern.”
He concluded the statement with his signature rallying cry — “Ka Anambra Chawapu” — translated as “Let Anambra Shine Brighter.”
As political tension builds in the state ahead of the November 2025 governorship election, all eyes now turn to the APC Appeals Committee to see whether the party will revisit the primary outcome or double down on a process its critics, led by Ozigbo, describe as fundamentally flawed.
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