By Izunna Okafor, Awka
It was a moment of electrifying solidarity and massive show of political strength at the Ekwulobia Township Stadium in Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State over the weekend, as stakeholders and constituents of Anambra South Senatorial Zone unanimously declared their stand ahead of the forthcoming elections, with a powerful endorsement of Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo for a second term and a resounding promise to deliver Chief Emmanuel Nwachukwu (Ọnọdugo) as senator in the upcoming August 16 Anambra South Senatorial By-election.
The grand rally, which attracted tens of thousands of All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) faithful, stakeholders and constituents from across the seven local government areas of the Anambra South senatorial zone, marked a dual-purpose occasion — the Anambra South Mega Endorsement Rally for Governor Soludo and the official flag-off of Chief Emmanuel Nwachukwu’s senatorial campaign as the party’s candidate in the upcoming by-election.
The event, which was fully organized and sponsored by the people of Anambra South without any financial input from the state government, also featured the presentation of a ₦100 million cheque to support Governor Soludo’s second-term bid, as well as the conferment of the traditional chieftaincy title Ọrụatụegwu (One Who Fears No Work) on him by traditional rulers in the zone, thereby completing the circle of that honour which he had earlier received from monarchs in Anambra North and Central Senatorial Zones.
Speaking at the mega occasion, Governor Soludo, visibly moved by the massive turnout and generosity of the people, thanked the stakeholders for their unwavering support and endorsement, while reiterating that his campaign has yet to be formally launched.
“In the North Senatorial Zone, they organized and funded it themselves. In the Central, they did the same. And now, the South has done it again without us putting in one Kobo. That is a statement of people’s confidence,” he remarked.
He described the growing support across the three zones as not just a validation of his administration’s performance, but a reflection of the people’s desire to consolidate the transformation already taking root across Anambra State under his Solution Government.
The Governor — flanked by his Deputy, Dr. Onyekachukwu Ibezim; the Anambra First Lady, Dr. Mrs. Nonye Soludo, and some other top political figures — proudly reeled out a couple of ongoing developmental projects in the state under his administration, including the transformation of Ekwulobia Stadium and the adjoining country club, which he said would soon be commissioned as a hub for leisure and sports. Highlighting construction of roads and flyovers, revitalization of public health facilities across the state, he also reeled out other landmark achievements, transformational projects and progressive policies of his administration in education, health, youth empowerment, infrastructure, and security.
Soludo also listed the free education policy that now runs from kindergarten to senior secondary school level in public schools which has reduced the out-of-school children rate in the state to 2%, the free antenatal and delivery services (including cesarean sections) that have benefitted over 110,000 women, and the One Youth Two Skills initiative that has produced thousands of youth millionaires in the state. He also highlighted the employment of over 8,000 teachers, support to micro enterprises, and agricultural interventions with over 2.6 million coconut and palm seedlings distributed to over 180,000 households.
“Anambra is on the rise,” he declared. “You haven’t seen anything yet. More is coming. This is just the beginning.”
On the upcoming senatorial by-election, Soludo officially presented and declared the party’s full support to Chief Emmanuel Nwachukwu (Ọnọdugo) as the APGA candidate, describing him as a highly competent and credible candidate, with a solid background in accounting, oil and gas, banking, and consultancy. He called on Ndị Anambra South to go from house to house, village to village, and deliver a landslide victory for APGA and for Ọnọdugo.
“Chief Nwachukwu is a well-rounded professional. He’s not just our candidate; he is a mission partner in delivering greater dividends to Anambra South. I urge every household, every community, and every voter in Anambra South to support and vote for him,” he added.
He emphasized the importance of having synergy between the executive arm and the legislative representatives to ensure smooth delivery of development projects and influence at the federal level, emphasizing that APGA has presented a very sound candidate for the people of Anambra South this time.
The governor, in his usual candid manner, took time to reflect on the lessons from the 2019 election, where APGA lost the senatorial seat in Anambra South to what he described as “a miscalculated mistake.” He narrated how, despite his personal efforts to support and campaign for the party’s candidate at the time, the result was disappointing, as the party came a distant 4th in the election — being the worst performance of the party in such election since its history.
“That man lost even in his own ward, and now he is running to become governor under another party. I know that some of them are not even in this race to win but to hustle for appointments or raise money for other ventures,” Soludo said, urging the electorate not to fall for such gimmicks again.
He also faulted the gimmick of some candidates who promise to serve only one term, describing it as a tactic to gain sympathy, while also condemning such pledges as unserious and deceitful.
“Anybody who says they’ll serve only one term needs psychiatric examination,” the governor firmly stated, warning against actions that could destabilize the state’s zoning arrangement.
According to him, Anambra has an existing zoning structure, and after his eight-year tenure, the governorship will rotate to Anambra Central. He called on those from Anambra South eyeing the governorship seat to respect the existing political equilibrium.
While noting that some of the governorship candidates in the state and their academic qualifications have serious credibility doubt, Governor Soludo also used the platform to warn against political deceit and vote-buying, stressing that such would not be tolerated in the state.
“Anambra has no place for street urchins or those with questionable credentials. We are a land of professors, global icons and intellectual giants. We must protect that legacy,” he thundered.
Addressing the security situation, the Governor reaffirmed that Anambra is now one of the safest states in the country, thanks to strategic interventions and a multi-layered approach. He reiterated the government’s standing offer of amnesty to criminals willing to lay down arms, but warned that those who refuse would be decisively dealt with.
Earlier speaking shortly after receiving APGA flag from the party’s National Chairman, Barr. Sly Ezeokenwa Jnr., the APGA candidate for the Anambra South senatorial by-election, Chief Emmanuel Nwachukwu, expressed deep gratitude to the party leadership, Governor Soludo, and the entire Anambra South Zonal stakeholders of the party for the honour to fly the flag and for the confidence reposed in him. He assured constituents of quality representation, and pledged to attract development, defend the interests of the zone at the National Assembly, and work closely with the state government.
Chief Nwachukwu also paid glowing tribute to other aspirants who eyed the APGA ticket with him, describing them as brothers in progress, while also commending their sacrifice and promising to carry everyone along in his campaign and eventual representation.
Chaired by Dr. Christopher Eze, the mega rally also witnessed the presence of several APGA chieftains, including the State Chairman of the party, Chief Ifeatu Obi-Okoye, as well as key political figures in the state, including as Nigeria’s only female Governor and former Deputy Governor of Anambra, Dame Virgy Etiaba; former Deputy Governor and Secretary of Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo, Emeka Sibeudu, seven local government chairmen from Anambra South, some members of the State Executive Council, among others.
Also present were APGA federal lawmakers from Anambra South, who presented a joint communique endorsing Soludo and Nwachukwu.
This reporter, Izunna Okafor, gathered that all the aspirants who contested for the APGA senatorial ticket with Chief Nwachukwu were also in attendance and declared their full support for his candidature, in what has been described as a rare show of party unity.
The event was organized by a planning committee headed by the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Mr. Ernest Ezeajughi, and was widely adjudged as one of the most organized and crowd-pulling political rallies in the state in recent times.
The occasion was peaked by energetic march and solidarity chants for Soludo and Ọnọdugo, which echoed through the stadium, as supporters danced and celebrated what many described as the official take-off of a people-driven political movement set to further redefine Anambra’s destiny.
Among other highlights, the conferment of the prestigious chieftaincy title on Governor Soludo by Anambra South Traditional Rulers, and the official presentation of the APGA flag to Chief Nwachukwu to mark the flag-off of his senatorial campaign, formed the high points of the event.
