With the November 8 governorship election in Anambra State drawing closer, the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Nicholas Ukachukwu, appears increasingly isolated both within his party and at the national level.
According to political observers, Ukachukwu, who secured the APC ticket in what critics allege was a heavily monetized primary process, has struggled to gain acceptance among party stalwarts. Reports suggest that his limited connections in the ruling party have left him sidelined despite attempts to project influence through national appearances.
The only occasion Ukachukwu was publicly presented to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was earlier this year, when then-APC National Chairman Abdullahi Ganduje reportedly facilitated his visit to Aso Rock for the symbolic presentation of the party’s flag. Since that event, sources claim Ukachukwu has found it difficult to gain direct access to the President or key APC governors.
His campaign structure has also been plagued by setbacks. A widely publicized campaign council list failed to take off after several prominent names rejected their inclusion, forcing the party leadership to mandate the APC Southeast zonal executives to handle the inauguration. Eventually, Chike Ikedife Jnr, from Nnewi North, was appointed as Director General of the Ukachukwu Campaign Organisation, with Senator Uche Ekwunife serving as his deputy. Both, like Ukachukwu, hail from the Anambra South Senatorial Zone, leading to criticism that his campaign lacks inclusivity across the state’s three senatorial districts.
The embattled candidate’s troubles were further highlighted during President Tinubu’s recent visit to Imo State, where Ukachukwu reportedly mobilized supporters but was allegedly snubbed by the President. Political analysts argue that this incident reflects a wider trend of disconnection between Ukachukwu and the APC leadership at the center.
Commenting on the situation, Evangelist Chinedu Obigwe, National Coordinator of the APGA Media Warriors Forum, said Ukachukwu’s political struggles signal an inevitable defeat at the polls. He maintained that Governor Chukwuma Soludo, the incumbent, has earned the confidence of Anambra voters through what he described as “visible dividends of good governance.”
“With what is happening to Ukachukwu, he already knows that he has lost the November 8 governorship election. The body language of President Tinubu shows that the votes of Anambra people must count,” Obigwe stated.
