The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has debunked media reports that the Anambra State Governor Professor Chukwuma Soludo, is mulling of replacing the deputy governor, Dr Onyekachi Ibezim with erstwhile Minister of Aviation, Osita Chidoka, as his running mate in the 2025 governorship election.
Describing the report as dubious and
a lie from the pit of hell, the National Coordinator of APGA)l Media Warriors Forum , Chinedu Obigwe, said it was the handiwork of mischief makers.
Obigwe said, “The above referred blackmail piece is the handiwork of Ifeanyi Ubah propagandists. There is no any iota of truth in the above referred story.
According to the report Obigwe was reacting to, “There is mounting pressure on Governor Soludo to reconsider his current deputy, Dr Onyekachi Ibezim, and instead run on a joint ticket with former Minister of Aviation, Osita Chidoka in the 2025 Anambra governorship election.”
The report further said, ” It has been reported that Chidoka, unless there are any changes, will leave the PDP and join APGA in preparation for the election.
“It is believed in some quarters that a repeat of Soludo/Ibezim ticket come 2025 will spell doom for APGA considering the fact that Ibezim holds little or no electoral value with respect to the influence APC throws around in Anambra State currently.
” Insider sources have revealed concerns from Soludo’s team about Uche Ekwunife’s move to the APC, given her strong political influence in Anambra Central Zone and the state as a whole.
“They fear that Senator Ifeanyi Ubah already poses a strong challenge in the southern senatorial zone, judging by the performance of his former party, YPP, in the last general election. Soludo’s team believes that if Ubah is allowed to work with Ekwunife in the Central Zone without being counterbalanced by another strong force like Chidoka, who hails from a significant voting bloc, it may impact Soludo’s chances of winning a second term.
According to the report, Soludo initially considered handing over leadership to Chidoka and had discussed the idea with bishops in the Anglican communion. The source confirmed that Soludo, unhappy with the dominating influence of Catholics in the state’s affairs, confided in Anglican bishops and wealthy Anglicans that he would prefer an Anglican to be his successor, which has earned him great support from affluent Anglicans. The report added,”
Due to the desperation of the APC to take power from the APGA government, Soludo’s team has decided to re-strategize. Instead of bringing Chidoka after his second term, they plan to bring him in now to counteract the political alliance between Ifeanyi Ubah and Ekwunife.
The source stated that Chidoka’s appeal to the people of Anambra, especially coming from a large voting bloc in Idemili, makes him the ideal candidate.
Reacting to the development, Obigwe said, “As for Ubah/Ekwunife collabo, anybody describing it as a tsunami is massaging their ego that is obviously over bloated.
“I will continue saying that the two of them are familiar political foes and I am confident that Governor Soludo will triumph over them in 2025.
