A former Commissioner for Information and Culture and Tourism in Anambra state, Chief Joemartin Uzodike, has taken a swipe at candidates in the November 8, 2025 governorship election and their supporters over ongoing mudslinging campaigns.
Uzodike made the condemnation in a statement entitled “Anambra Election: Enough of the Absurd”, made available to journalists in Awka on Monday while reacting to the recent exchanges between the camps of All Progressives Gtand Alliance (APGA) and the All Progressives Congress (APC).
He said state had not witnessed the level of accusations of certificates’ forgery, marital infidelity, paternity and fidelity challenges, chastity oaths, DNA disputes, and the mental exhumation of the dead with accompanying ‘uncouth, inflammatory, and asinine language’.
He said he had observed the worrisome and steady degeneration of the quality of conversation and decided to speak up as elders should not be in the house while she goat gives birth in tethers.
He said this was not the Anambra that Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, Mbazulike Amaechi, Chinua Achebe and other founding fathers of the state envisioned.
He said the politicians and their media handlers were creating a negative image which was rubbing off on every Anambra son and daughter anywhere in the world.
According to him, “In my 72 years of existence and more than 46 years of active involvement in politics, I have not seen the display of the absurd in electioneering as has been the case in Anambra presently.
“Anambra has never had a time when the privacy and dignity of families of our politicians are hung on the lines and sun-dried in the marketplace.
“This is especially troubling as our state faces challenges of insecurity, decreasing food production, loss of homesteads to erosion and yearning for better welfare of citizens.
“I vehemently condemn this ugly trend and call on all political gladiators to stop vitriolic attacks and to rein-in their media handlers, many of whom have proven to be unprofessional, unethical, and unable to manage their principals.
“The legacy we bequeath to our children today will turn to our culture tomorrow, this is not who we are.”
Uzodike called for an end to zoning in the state as it not only bred mediocrity, it undermines people’s freedom to choose quality leaders, adding that the state was more sophisticated and deserved the best irrespective of where they came from.
“Zoning was introduced by Mr. Peter Obi and was accepted by many, it has not only led to complacency but has engendered negative competition among brothers of the same zone.
“Candidates should stop campaigning on zoning and instead be judged on what they have done and what they intend to do.
“The conversation must be rich and enlightening so that the electorate can choose, that is the beauty of democracy.
“Anambra should forget zoning and elect the best to preside over us, not those who merely think it is their turn.
“I served four administrations, three of which as a State Executive Council member in the old and present Anambra, so I am an active participant in the political development of our dear state,” he said.
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