In the wake of Saturday’s high‑stakes governorship election in Anambra State, APC flag‑bearer Nicholas Ukachukwu has formally rejected the declared victory of APGA’s Chukwuma Soludo, alleging a campaign marred by violence, intimidation and suppression of his team’s rights.
During a press briefing in Awka, Ukachukwu stated that his supporters bore the brunt of the electoral atmosphere. He described scenes of agents being abducted, vehicles and homes burnt, and widespread efforts to stifle his party’s ground presence. “Our people were gallant,” he said. “Even after their cars were burned, their houses destroyed, they stood firm.” Ukachukwu insisted: “Those are winners in different ways.”
According to his account, one of his supporters, who was responsible for paying campaign agents, was arrested on election day and accused of carrying funds allegedly used for vote‑buying. “Can I buy votes when a sitting governor wields the state treasury?” he asked rhetorically, pointing out that his official tally of roughly 99,000 votes was itself an indication that the APC remains a force in Anambra politics.
He further remarked that many of his agents were unable to be paid because their colleague was in custody, yet they remained loyal and committed to the cause. He highlighted the story of a young female supporter in Anambra East whose house was reportedly burned for canvassing the APC.
Ukachukwu said he and his team are currently collating data from all party agents, completing their internal reviews and will soon engage party stakeholders and state agents before determining the next move. “We are consulting, we are speaking to our team. The story is not closed yet,” he added.
The backdrop to this declaration is the official result from the election, which shows Soludo of APGA winning decisively, with his closest rival — Ukachukwu of APC — polling approximately 99,445 votes. Vanguard News+2Punch Newspapers+2 Despite this, Ukachukwu insists the scale of his vote share demonstrates that APC “can no longer be ignored” in Anambra politics.
For our Jamflash audience, especially observers following Nigeria’s 2025 electoral cycle, this development raises key questions:
-
How credible were the claims of intimidation and electoral disruption?
-
What will be the APC’s next move: legal challenge, internal party review or broader coalition building?
-
How will this outcome shape the political balance within Anambra State, traditionally an APGA stronghold?
Stay tuned to Jamflash for updates as new information emerges.
