By Izunna Okafor, Awka
Former Governor of Anambra State, Senator Chris Nwabueze Ngige, has warned the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in the November 8 gubernatorial election, Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu, and his running mate, Senator Uche Ekwunife, to desist from using his photographs in their campaign materials without his consent.
This followed the circulation of an online campaign poster featuring Senator Ngige’s image alongside that of Ukachukwu and Ekwunife.
Issuing the warning in a statement released on Monday, August 11, by his Special Assistant, Hyggy Obialo, on behalf of the Ngige Media Office, the former Minister of Labour and Employment said neither his consent nor approval was sought before the poster was published and shared to the public.
Ngige, who served as Anambra’s Governor from 2003 to 2006, represented Anambra Central Senatorial District from 2011 to 2015, and was a two-term minister from 2015 to 2023, clarified that he is currently on a self-declared sabbatical from active partisan politics.
According to the statement, the seasoned politician is taking a well-deserved rest after over 25 years of active political engagement and public service.
The statement further noted that Senator Ngige has consistently made it clear in public engagements that he is not participating in partisan political activities for now, and therefore should not be associated with any political campaign or candidacy.
“We, therefore, advise the perpetrators to respect the wishes of our principal, who has indicated in many fora that he is out of partisan politics for now,” the statement read.
The former governor’s latest position comes amid heightened political activities in the build-up to the November 8, 2025 Anambra governorship election. No doubts, his name and political stature remain highly influential in the state’s political space, a factor which analysts believe could explain why campaigners might seek to associate his image with certain candidacies.
This notwithstanding, the statement emphatically clarified that Senator Ngige’s political sabbatical is intentional and should be respected, stressing that any attempt to exploit his image for political advantage is both misleading to the public and contrary to his expressed wish to remain at this time.
Efforts by this reporter Izunna Okafor, to confirm the disclaimer from the Senator Ngige and his next line of action if the candidate continues to use his pictures for campaign posters proved abortive as he did not pick his call or respond to message sent to him by the reporter as at the time of this publication.
