Jurriën timber
Anambra State Governor Professor Chukwuma Charles Soludo on Friday inaugurated the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) gubernatorial campaign council ahead of the November 8 governorship election.
The ceremony, attended by top APGA officials and political stakeholders, saw the appointment of Professor Osita Chukwudobelu as Director-General of the campaign council.
At the event, which was well attended by top political office holders in the state, among other dignitaries, Governor Soludo outlined the campaign structure, establishing three key officers for each local government area: a chairman, co-chairman, and secretary.
He announced plans for continued project inspections and direct voter engagement throughout the state, emphasising that work must continue beyond the election. “It is not about me as an individual but Anambra and Ndi Anambra,” Soludo stressed, positioning his candidacy as essential for continued state development.
The governor reinforced the state’s political zoning arrangement, insisting that Anambra South must complete its eight-year tenure before power shifts to Anambra Central, then Anambra North. “No one should disrupt the zoning formula in Anambra,” Soludo declared. “I can only hand over to a proper, full Anambra Central person, not someone married to an Anambra Central person.”
In a critique of his opponents, Soludo said some politicians lack basic qualifications, so how would a person without a school certificate be a governor of Anambra State, where the likes of Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, Dr. Alex Ekwueme, Chief Chuba Okadigbo, hail from. He said one also parades a fake doctorate degree.
He described last year’s challenges to party unity as unsuccessful attempts by “unknown people” to cause confusion. He maintained that despite previous crises within APGA, the party had always emerged victorious, noting that the party had never been as united as it currently stands.
The governor defended recent appointments, including Professor Kate Omenugha as Vice-Chancellor of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, calling her “the best” choice for the position.
In his remark, Professor Chukwudobelu emphasised the council’s mission, stating they should take the message to every part of the state to ensure Soludo is re-elected. He also urged the council members to campaign not just for the governor’s person, but his message and vision.
Also, APGA National Chairman, Barrister Sly Ezeokenwa, praised Soludo’s transformative leadership, noting that “anything that receives the Soludo touch becomes positively different.” He expressed confidence that the November election would be a “walkover” based on statistics from the recent Anambra South senatorial by-election.
Legislative support for the governor’s re-election bid was confirmed by Speaker Somtochukwu Udeze, who assured that “the house is solidly behind him.” He emphasised that the election concerns “what the people really want” and praised Soludo for changing the state’s narrative since 1999, adding that the House of Assembly is not a “rubber stamp” but focuses on what benefits the citizens.
Similarly, Honourable Pascal Agbodike, Member representing Ihiala Federal Constituency, described the re-election as already “decided,” calling the campaign council inauguration a formality to “fulfil all righteousness.” He confirmed that all eleven House of Representatives members from the state support Soludo’s candidacy, whether through open campaigning or behind-the-scenes activities.
The APGA BOT Member, Chief Ifeyinwa Obegolu, delivered a rousing endorsement of the governor, asserting that “Soludo has no competition because he is working on all fronts.” She insisted that nothing substantial existed before Soludo’s administration, recounting his achievements across health, education, infrastructure, and other sectors whilst urging beneficiaries of various programmes to reciprocate with their votes.
Former Anambra State governor, Dame Virgy Etiaba, lent her support to Soludo’s continued leadership, stating that “everyone has agreed that APGA must continue because of Soludo’s performance.” Her endorsement was reinforced by former Deputy Governor, Sibudu, who, speaking as the Ohaneze Secretary General, argued that any southern governor performing well, regardless of party affiliation, deserves Ohaneze support. He positioned Soludo as precisely such a leader worthy of backing.