The All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Anambra State, Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu, has declared his readiness to unseat Governor Charles Soludo in the upcoming November 8 election.

Advertisements

Ukachukwu, who emerged winner of the recently concluded APC primary in the state, made the statement after receiving his certificate of return from the National Chairman of the party, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, at the APC national headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday.

Advertisements

Speaking to journalists after the presentation, Ukachukwu criticized the continued dominance of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in the state, saying the people of Anambra are ready for a new political direction.

According to him, APC’s victory in the November election will mark the beginning of transformative governance and closer alignment with the federal government.

He said, “We are determined to get the best that can take Anambra state for the APC. Anambra needs to be connected to the centre for things to flow.

“Anambra state cannot be one party state any longer. We need to come to the centre to know what’s going on, so that our voices can be heard when decisions are being taken. Anambra is the heartbeat of the Igbo nation and cannot remain a one-party state because of selfish reasons.”

Addressing speculation that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu may back Governor Soludo’s re-election, Ukachukwu dismissed such claims as baseless.

“Those are lies wherever such talks are coming from. How can a President who always supports his party to win go and then say I will support somebody else instead.

“If APGA is sellable without the centre, why are they relying on the centre? This is the first time Soludo is bringing himself for election as a person. We will determine whether he is popular or not. We are ready for the battle. Don’t forget Mbadinuju did one term. What stops Soludo from doing one term?, he asked”

Ukachukwu also emphasized that his motivation for running stems from a desire to attract greater federal attention to Anambra State.

He expressed gratitude to President Tinubu and the Abdullahi Ganduje-led National Working Committee for what he described as a transparent and credible primary election process.

He assured party members and supporters that the APC is more united than ever and will approach the November poll as a formidable and focused political force.

Advertisements

National Secretary of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Ajibola Basiru, has turned down the Excellence in Leadership award set to be conferred on him by the Osun State Chapter of the Nigerian Economic Society (NES).

Advertisements

Basiru alleged that the Osun State Government manipulated the NES following the abrupt postponement of the award ceremony. He described the move as a result of undue political interference orchestrated by the state administration.

Advertisements

The NES, in a letter dated April 7, 2025, signed by its Chairman, Prof. Adeleke G. Aremo, and Secretary, Adewale Sam-Aliyu, had informed Basiru of the postponement of the event initially scheduled for Thursday, April 11, 2025. The letter cited “unexpected turn of events, logistic and security complexities” as reasons for the decision. No alternative date was provided.

Rejecting the award, Basiru, through a letter signed by his Special Adviser on Legal and Political Strategy, Barrister Othuke Amata Aso, said the society had compromised the integrity of the recognition.

He lambasted the NES for what he termed unprofessional handling of the cancellation notice, calling the letter “convoluted” and “hastily prepared,” and faulted the society’s communication approach.

Basiru expressed disappointment at the sudden cancellation of the ceremony, criticizing the April 7 letter for its lack of coherence and clarity, and accused the society of hiding behind semantics by calling it a “postponement.”

He alleged that the real reason for the development was external interference, specifically from the Osun State Government. According to him, credible sources within the NES confirmed that pressure came directly from Governor Ademola Adeleke.

“The real reason for this shameful retreat is the undue pressure and shenanigans exerted by the Governor of Osun State, Mr. Ademola Adeleke, on the leadership of your society,” Basiru stated.

The APC scribe accused the Adeleke-led government of mediocrity and political vindictiveness, claiming that the move reflects the state administration’s lack of regard for merit and excellence.

Basiru, who admitted that he was initially skeptical about accepting the award due to his reservations about honorary recognitions, said he only agreed after encouragement from friends and colleagues.

However, in light of recent developments, he has now rejected the award outright, describing the actions of the NES Osun Chapter as a “stain on its reputation” and a betrayal of the values the society claims to uphold.

He advised the NES to find a way to restore its credibility and rise above external political pressures, asserting that true merit should not be “subverted by the whims of those in power.”

Advertisements

Stakeholders in Bauchi State, a political group operating under the aegis of Bauchi South Concern Citizens Movement and some pressure groups has advocated for Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar to succeed Governor Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed who is currently serving out his second tenure on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

Advertisements

Tuggar, a Minister in President Bola Tinubu’s administration is from the Northern zone of the State which they said has not produced Governor since 1999.

Advertisements

The group which is an arm of the All Progressives Congress in a meeting in Bauchi to chart a way forward for governorship of APC fold, said, the ticket should be reserved for someone from the northern zone of the State.

The group tipped the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar from the northern zone of the State as properly fit to fly the governorship flag of APC in 2027 and urged him to aspire for the plum job.

Abudullahi Usman Matori, a chieftain of the APC and an elder statesman, speaking in the meeting on Monday, maintained that Bauch South has been producing governors since 1999 and it would be justified that the narrative should change in 2027 in the interest of justice and fairness.

He urged the party to work with other relevant stakeholders to ensure that the northern zone produce the next governor as the State was not meant to be governed by people from the Southern zone alone.

“Our concern now is to work with relevant stakeholders to ensure success of Tuggar candidature in the APC and how the party will win the seat,” he said.

“For political fairness and inclusivity, the next Governor of the State should come from another zone, particularly the Bauchi North Zone, the seat is not for Bauchi South alone”.

He further adduced reasons for the choice of President Bola Tinubu’s Minister as saying that there was need to focus of the realization of Kafin Zaki Dam, exploration of oil in Kolmani, completion of the Waya Hydro power dam and other developmental projects which he added were strategic to the economic prosperity of the nation and the State.

Another Speaker, Bala Juwara and other stakeholders who spoke on the pedigree of Yusuf Maitama Tuggar were unanimous on his capacity to govern the State.

According to him, “Yusuf Maitama Tuggar in all the political offices he has held from Member of Representatives, Ambassador and presently, Minister has done so well for every segment of the State though he is from the Bauchi North Senatorial Zone.”

He urged members of the Group to embark on door to door consultantion and mobilization to ensure that he answered the call and declare interest in the gubernatorial ticket of the APC.

Also speaking, a former Chairperson of Bogoro LGC, Hon Simon Taimako commended the leadership of the group particularly in regards to uniting the people of the State irrespective of ethno-religious and political differences.

He declared his support for the call on Maitama Tuggar to aspire for the APC gubernatorial ticket stressing that he is the most qualified among the aspirants so far.

In her contribution, Hajiya Maimuna joined the call on the Minister of Foreign Affairs to declare his aspirations for the gubernatorial ticket of the APC for 2027 stressing that he is most qualified for the seat.

She however lamented that women should not be neglected after the objective must have been achieved assuring that women will embark on massive mobilization to ensure that the Minister answered the call.

Chairman of Bauchi South Concern Citizens Movement, Musa G Khalid explained that the movement was formed in order to promote unity and peaceful coexistence in the State through relationship.

He stressed that, it is only fair to allow other zones of the State, particularly the North to produce the next Governor of the state stating that the Bauchi South Senatorial District has produced all the Governors since 1999.
Musa Khalid stressed that the person fitted for the gubernatorial ticket of the APC in 2027 is Yusuf Maitama Tuggar considering the fact that he is loved by all segments of the State.

According to him, “We in the group are convinced that Maitama Tuggar is most qualified to govern Bauchi State, his political pedigree is unequalled among his counterparts.”

Advertisements