The governorship race in Anambra State is heating up ahead of the November 8 election, but one candidacy continues to raise eyebrows that of Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu, the All Progressives Congress (APC) flagbearer. Many within and outside the party are beginning to wonder whether APC made a costly mistake by handing him the ticket.
Ukachukwu’s ambition appears shrouded in contradictions. On paper, he is in the race for the governorship. Yet, his actions and political body language suggest otherwise. Instead of a full-throttle campaign for Agu Awka, political watchers say his focus seems to be tilted toward a long-term game plan the Anambra South Senatorial election of 2027.
If this is true, then one must ask: is Ukachukwu really contesting to govern Anambra, or is his candidacy nothing more than a political rehearsal?
The APC, already struggling to establish deep roots in Anambra, cannot afford to treat the governorship election as a mere bargaining chip. Giving its ticket to a candidate who appears disinterested in victory diminishes the party’s seriousness and further alienates voters who crave credible alternatives.
For Ukachukwu, the strategy may be clever leverage the governorship campaign to project himself across the state, build structures, and solidify his profile ahead of 2027. But for APC, it is a self-inflicted wound. Anambra politics is too dynamic to be gambled with, and fielding a candidate with split ambitions risks handing the state on a platter to stronger opponents.
Ultimately, Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu must answer one simple but defining question: is he running to govern Anambra in 2025, or is he simply auditioning for the Senate in 2027? Until that question is answered, his candidacy will remain clouded in doubt, and APC’s gamble may prove to be a strategic blunder.
By: Godwin Offor
