Anambra South by-election: Aggrieved APGA supporters warn Soludo

From Mokwugwo Solomon, Awka

As Anambra state prepares for a senatorial by-election to fill the vacant seat left by late Senator Ifeanyi Ubah, who died in London last year, political parties have started nominating their flag bearers, with the ruling All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) settling for a consensus candidate, Hon. Emma Nwachukwu.

Hon. Emma Nwachukwu, a former President-General of Ukpor community, Nnewi South local government area of the state, was returned unopposed by a five man primary election panel led by Lady Jane Ejiofor as concensus candidate of the party after other aspirants under the party platform stepped down.

In the exercise conducted on Monday, July 21 at the Aguata local government secretariate hall in Ekwulobia, delegates to the election were made to ratify and affirm the nomination of Emma Nwachukwu as the party's candidate for the Anambra South senatorial by-election taking place on 16th August, 2025, through a voice vote.

After the voice affirmation, chairman of the primary election committee, Lady Jane Ejiofor, announced that Hon. Emma Nwachukwu has been returned as the candidate of APGA for the August 16 senatorial by-election in Anambra South.

Tension was however very high as supporters of other aspirants faulted the process, while contending that the exercise would have been thrown open for other aspirants to test their popularity.

Some of the party supporters who spoke with Legit.ng correspondent in a condition of annonimity for fear of being victimized, claimed that their choice aspirants were forced to step down in favour of a candidate annointed by Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo and the leadership of APGA.

They also expressed sadness that Mr. Governor left the aspirants to purchase the costly normination form, and also spend several billions of naira campaigning for the position only to be forced to step down for their choice candidate at the end of the day.

Aspirants reportedly forced to step down for Hon. Emma Nwachukwu include: Hon. Paschal Agbodike, Dr. Ebuka Onunkwo, Chief Akai Egwuonwu and Hon. Patrick Ubajaka, among others.

In a chat with Legit.ng correspondent, Hon. George Iloka, an aggrieved APGA stalwart, and strong supporter of a frontline aspirant, condemned the trend, and blamed Governor Soludo for giving way for a development that could bring division in the party, and ultimately result in a defeat for the party at the election proper.

"APGA has completely lost its democratic essence," Iloka said. "In what should have been a fair and transparent primary for the Anambra South senatorial by-election, the governor and the party leadership imposed their preferred candidate on the people, robbing other aspirants of the chance to contest on equal footing. Even worse, they stripped delegates of their right to vote freely, and choose the candidate that truly represents their will.

"It’s ironic, this betrayal happened within APGA itself. Aspirants are heartbroken, and delegates are frustrated, watching helplessly as the governor turns a political process into a personal coronation. This is not leadership, it’s authoritarianism dressed as governance. But Anambra is awake now. The will of the people cannot be silenced."

Another APGA faithful Justice Ndubuisi Ukachukwu (Esq), who also spoke with Legit.ng correspondent, issued a bold challenge to Governor Charles Soludo regarding his push for senatorial aspirants to withdraw in favour of his preferred candidate, Hon. Emma Nwachukwu.

Ukachukwu warned that such "coercive tactics" could lead to significant drawbacks for the party, including voter apathy during the main election, discontent and anti-party activities among members, and ultimately, a potential defeat in the upcoming senatorial by-election scheduled for August 16, 2025.

The legal luminary expressed that "forcing candidates to step aside could alienate grassroots supporters and undermine the party's unity and morale."

He called on the leadership to respect the democratic process and encourage healthy competition among aspirants, emphasizing that "a more inclusive app
Anambra South by-election: Aggrieved APGA supporters warn Soludo

From Mokwugwo Solomon, Awka

As Anambra state prepares for a senatorial by-election to fill the vacant seat left by late Senator Ifeanyi Ubah, who died in London last year, political parties have started nominating their flag bearers, with the ruling All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) settling for a consensus candidate, Hon. Emma Nwachukwu.

Hon. Emma Nwachukwu, a former President-General of Ukpor community, Nnewi South local government area of the state, was returned unopposed by a five man primary election panel led by Lady Jane Ejiofor as concensus candidate of the party after other aspirants under the party platform stepped down.

In the exercise conducted on Monday, July 21 at the Aguata local government secretariate hall in Ekwulobia, delegates to the election were made to ratify and affirm the nomination of Emma Nwachukwu as the party's candidate for the Anambra South senatorial by-election taking place on 16th August, 2025, through a voice vote.

After the voice affirmation, chairman of the primary election committee, Lady Jane Ejiofor, announced that Hon. Emma Nwachukwu has been returned as the candidate of APGA for the August 16 senatorial by-election in Anambra South.

Tension was however very high as supporters of other aspirants faulted the process, while contending that the exercise would have been thrown open for other aspirants to test their popularity.

Some of the party supporters who spoke with Legit.ng correspondent in a condition of annonimity for fear of being victimized, claimed that their choice aspirants were forced to step down in favour of a candidate annointed by Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo and the leadership of APGA.

They also expressed sadness that Mr. Governor left the aspirants to purchase the costly normination form, and also spend several billions of naira campaigning for the position only to be forced to step down for their choice candidate at the end of the day.

Aspirants reportedly forced to step down for Hon. Emma Nwachukwu include: Hon. Paschal Agbodike, Dr. Ebuka Onunkwo, Chief Akai Egwuonwu and Hon. Patrick Ubajaka, among others.

In a chat with Legit.ng correspondent, Hon. George Iloka, an aggrieved APGA stalwart, and strong supporter of a frontline aspirant, condemned the trend, and blamed Governor Soludo for giving way for a development that could bring division in the party, and ultimately result in a defeat for the party at the election proper.

"APGA has completely lost its democratic essence," Iloka said. "In what should have been a fair and transparent primary for the Anambra South senatorial by-election, the governor and the party leadership imposed their preferred candidate on the people, robbing other aspirants of the chance to contest on equal footing. Even worse, they stripped delegates of their right to vote freely, and choose the candidate that truly represents their will.

"It’s ironic, this betrayal happened within APGA itself. Aspirants are heartbroken, and delegates are frustrated, watching helplessly as the governor turns a political process into a personal coronation. This is not leadership, it’s authoritarianism dressed as governance. But Anambra is awake now. The will of the people cannot be silenced."

Another APGA faithful Justice Ndubuisi Ukachukwu (Esq), who also spoke with Legit.ng correspondent, issued a bold challenge to Governor Charles Soludo regarding his push for senatorial aspirants to withdraw in favour of his preferred candidate, Hon. Emma Nwachukwu.

Ukachukwu warned that such "coercive tactics" could lead to significant drawbacks for the party, including voter apathy during the main election, discontent and anti-party activities among members, and ultimately, a potential defeat in the upcoming senatorial by-election scheduled for August 16, 2025.

The legal luminary expressed that "forcing candidates to step aside could alienate grassroots supporters and undermine the party's unity and morale."

Anambra South by-election: Aggrieved APGA supporters warn Soludo

From Mokwugwo Solomon, Awka

As Anambra state prepares for a senatorial by-election to fill the vacant seat left by late Senator Ifeanyi Ubah, who died in London last year, political parties have started nominating their flag bearers, with the ruling All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) settling for a consensus candidate, Hon. Emma Nwachukwu.

Hon. Emma Nwachukwu, a former President-General of Ukpor community, Nnewi South local government area of the state, was returned unopposed by a five man primary election panel led by Lady Jane Ejiofor as concensus candidate of the party after other aspirants under the party platform stepped down.

In the exercise conducted on Monday, July 21 at the Aguata local government secretariate hall in Ekwulobia, delegates to the election were made to ratify and affirm the nomination of Emma Nwachukwu as the party's candidate for the Anambra South senatorial by-election taking place on 16th August, 2025, through a voice vote.

After the voice affirmation, chairman of the primary election committee, Lady Jane Ejiofor, announced that Hon. Emma Nwachukwu has been returned as the candidate of APGA for the August 16 senatorial by-election in Anambra South.

Tension was however very high as supporters of other aspirants faulted the process, while contending that the exercise would have been thrown open for other aspirants to test their popularity.

Some of the party supporters who spoke with Legit.ng correspondent in a condition of annonimity for fear of being victimized, claimed that their choice aspirants were forced to step down in favour of a candidate annointed by Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo and the leadership of APGA.

They also expressed sadness that Mr. Governor left the aspirants to purchase the costly normination form, and also spend several billions of naira campaigning for the position only to be forced to step down for their choice candidate at the end of the day.

Aspirants reportedly forced to step down for Hon. Emma Nwachukwu include: Hon. Paschal Agbodike, Dr. Ebuka Onunkwo, Chief Akai Egwuonwu and Hon. Patrick Ubajaka, among others.

In a chat with Legit.ng correspondent, Hon. George Iloka, an aggrieved APGA stalwart, and strong supporter of a frontline aspirant, condemned the trend, and blamed Governor Soludo for giving way for a development that could bring division in the party, and ultimately result in a defeat for the party at the election proper.

"APGA has completely lost its democratic essence," Iloka said. "In what should have been a fair and transparent primary for the Anambra South senatorial by-election, the governor and the party leadership imposed their preferred candidate on the people, robbing other aspirants of the chance to contest on equal footing. Even worse, they stripped delegates of their right to vote freely, and choose the candidate that truly represents their will.

"It’s ironic, this betrayal happened within APGA itself. Aspirants are heartbroken, and delegates are frustrated, watching helplessly as the governor turns a political process into a personal coronation. This is not leadership, it’s authoritarianism dressed as governance. But Anambra is awake now. The will of the people cannot be silenced."

Another APGA faithful Justice Ndubuisi Ukachukwu (Esq), who also spoke with Legit.ng correspondent, issued a bold challenge to Governor Charles Soludo regarding his push for senatorial aspirants to withdraw in favour of his preferred candidate, Hon. Emma Nwachukwu.

Ukachukwu warned that such "coercive tactics" could lead to significant drawbacks for the party, including voter apathy during the main election, discontent and anti-party activities among members, and ultimately, a potential defeat in the upcoming senatorial by-election scheduled for August 16, 2025.

The legal luminary expressed that "forcing candidates to step aside could alienate grassroots supporters and undermine the party's unity and morale."

He called on the leadership to respect the democratic process and encourage healthy competition among aspirants, emphasizing that "a more inclusive approach would be vital for mobilizing voters and ensuring the party’s success in the election."

"This is part of reasons why the ruling APGA hardly wins national elections in Anambra," he said, while calling on Governor Charles Soludo and national chairman of the party, Barr Sly Ezeokenwa, to quickly set up reconciliation committee, if at all the party would make a headway in the coming election.

He called on the leadership to respect the democratic process and encourage healthy competition among aspirants, emphasizing that "a more inclusive approach would be vital for mobilizing voters and ensuring the party’s success in the election."

"This is part of reasons why the ruling APGA hardly wins national elections in Anambra," he said, while calling on Governor Charles Soludo and national chairman of the party, Barr Sly Ezeokenwa, to quickly set up reconciliation committee, if at all the party would make a headway in the coming election.
roach would be vital for mobilizing voters and ensuring the party’s success in the election."

"This is part of reasons why the ruling APGA hardly wins national elections in Anambra," he said, while calling on Governor Charles Soludo and national chairman of the party, Barr Sly Ezeokenwa, to quickly set up reconciliation committee, if at all the party would make a headway in the coming election.