EMEKA OZUMBA
It took a lie dressed up as an “endorsement” of Prince, Evangelist, Dr, Nicholas Ukachukwu’s aspiration to draw out former Governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Mmaduaburọchukwu Obiano, Akpokuodike, with a disclaimer. This speaks to desperation and tactlessness on the part of someone seeking to assume office as Governor, a position the man he sought to leverage on his political capital served in with distinction.
Ndi Anambra can attest that debonair statesman, Willie, had maintained stoic silence since handing over to the incumbent, Prof Chukwuma Charles Soludo on March 17, 2022. Even as he bore his cross battling all manner of
persecution, Obiano remains steadfast in his resolve not to dabble in the affairs of Anambra State – a stance re-enforced at his first public remark in Anambra since he left office – the funeral Mass of the mother of Willie Nwokoye, his former Principal Secretary.
While it may not be entirely surprising to the discerning that Evangelist Ukachukwu and his accolytes conjured the endorsement rumour, the fact that they dared says a lot about poor judgement of his core team. Thankfully, Obiano made his revulsion crystal clear: “…This fabrication is entirely false, misleading and should be completely disregarded by the public”.
Evangelist Nicholas Ukachukwu’s goal is to be elected Governor of Anambra State come November 8, 2025. But since his emergence as gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on April 6, 2025, no one can point to a manifesto or his agenda for Ndi Anambra. Has anyone heard or read a succint articulation of Ukachukwu’s statement of intent? Has he discussed any proposal or offering as alternative to Governor Soludo’s commitment to “building a liveavable and prosperous homeland?” Thusly, the tragedy of the opposition in Anambra today is the inability to present a credible alternative. As things stand, none of them can accuse the electorate of rejecting them, even before the whistle is blown, because they have offered nothing. They’ve all either gone mute, or are waiting for miracle at the ballot box on election day.
For the records, Evangelist Ukachukwu has had a stint in political office as PDP member representing AMAC/Bwari Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives (1999-2003). However, subsequent attempts at replicating the FCT opportunity in his Anambra home constituency has proved abortive: He lost Anambra South Constituency in 2019 even when he had the benefit of the APGA machinery behind him for the Senatorial election contest. For a man who claimed to be a kingmaker of previous governors, insiders worry at his tendency to kickstart a political project without finishing with aplomb. Hence, many are anxious to see the acclaimed Midas touch in his latest quest as gubernatorial candidate.
The average Anambra voter sees Evangelist Ukachukwu as one of those “businessmen-politicians” driven by mere pursuit of power than the urge to serve the people. Though he has name recognition simply for appearing on the scene every election circle,
Ukachukwu remains largely unpopular compared to the incumbent, Prof Soludo whose current electability rating appears unassailable. Another drawback for Ukachukwu is that his APC platform lacks the organic grassroots presence in Anambra associated APGA, thus worsening his chances at the polls.
Recently, disbelief and dismay were words many commentators used to describe the reaction of APC bigwigs of Anambra and South-East extraction to the tacit endorsement of Soludo’s “Progressives working together,” by His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu4_, during his State Visit to Anambra. Apart from well-known popularity deficiency of APC amongst the Anambra electorate, not a few were in doubt that the one-day showboat dance on the Ekwueme Square stage, Awka and the commissioning of projects including a new Government House and the Solution Funcity around the axis, marked the “death-knell” for all gubernatorial pretentions and aspirations of Evangelist Ukachukwu and others.
Though painfully obvious that Ukachukwu’s path to Agu Awka 2025 is fraught with thorns, it is to the credit of hawks within the APC fold who pushed to re-focus his fledgelling Guber journey which up to this moment never really took off. The flag-waving encounter in Mr. President’s office at Aso Villa, Abuja – which seemed to give Evangelist Ukachukwu a nudge in the arm was merely a welcome relief. The photo-ops, and the flexing and flaunting of the proverbial “Federal might” had never worked here due to the perculiarity of the Anambra electoral landscape. But what is this about: “I am going to take Anambra to the centre”? Pray, is that how to convince Ndi Anambra to vote for you?
Enter Senator Iyom Uche Ekwunife as running mate, political old war-horse and perennial contestant. The jury is already out on whether the tag-team helps Ukachukwu’s course or poised to prepare Senator Ekwunife for a shot at the office in 2029 during the turn of Anambra Central zone. We understand that she has initiated behind the scene consultations to convince stakeholders and shore up the team. As is wont with insiders in Anambra politics, feelers from many are that they just only wish them well in the endeavour.
Most important, the unwritten political power-shift zoning arrangement in Anambra is alive and kicking, despite subtle attempts in some quarters to muddy the waters for selfish interest. Often, some contestants appear on the ballot against the arrangement but past experience shows that they are not impactful, let alone rupturing the agreement. In fact, the fate of those who broke the code to contest against the current is well-known. Even, feeble attempts at pushing a four-year single term envelope as governor is dead on arrival. Those mauling the idea hardly summon the courage to pitch it to the Anambra electorate.
So far, the APC candidate has not sufficiently mined the Aso Villa visit to create a semblance of a renewed momentum with clear messaging touching on what the electorate may wish to hear, or that which proclaims the candidate’s chances as bright. Pro bono suggestion on the table is that Evangelist Ukachukwu may need to take advantage of the remaining five months to refocus his campaign or fizzle out completely.
The current political calculus in Anambra favours Governor Soludo, and he is mining it maximally by engaging with various stakeholders to further his second term bid. Equally, he stands in good stead to dominate the twenty Wards and three LGAs of old Aguata.
In fact, owing to Soludo’s performance especially on roads criss-crossing the zone, his acceptability rating has sowered to a level akin to that of their late illustrious son, business mogul, and philathropist, Abilikete Umunze, Chief Mathias Ugochukwu whom they’re won’t to eulogize thusly: “Ugochukwu bulu nwa nnem k’am zalu nafa.” This is largely the sing-song within old Aguata, thus solidifying Soludo’s hold, while his opponents like Ukachikwu stand no chance.
All told, Anambra Central district is waiting in the wings for their turn and are keen not to rupture the arrangement by allowing a second intrusion from the same zone on the pretext of a four-year single term promise. Mbanu! One needs not stress the fact that Anambra North just left the stage and cannot muster enough strength to act against the zoning arrangement, and therefore disposed for the incumbent to complete his tenure and yield the stage. This leaves Ihiala, and Nnewi areas open for all including hapless Evangelist Ukachukwu and the brewing coalition arrangement that may arrive late on the stage.
* Ozumba, a political communication strategist, writes from Enugwu-Ukwu.