Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu has emerged as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the upcoming Anambra State governorship election, following a resounding victory in the party’s primary.
The primary, which began on Saturday and concluded in the early hours of Sunday, saw Ukachukwu dominate the field with 1,455 votes, with his closest challenger, Valentine Ozigbo, securing just 67 votes.
Other aspirants, Johnbosco Onunkwo and Edozie Madu, polled 26 and eight, respectively, while 27 votes were declared invalid.
Naija Daily News recalls that Ozigbo recently dumped Labour Party, LP, in his quest to defeat incumbent Governor Chukwuma Soludo.
The result was formally announced by the APC Returning Officer and Governor of Cross River State, Bassey Otu, who described Ukachukwu as “a formidable force within the party” and affirmed him as the official flag bearer for the November 8 gubernatorial race.
“By the authority vested in me, I declare Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu the duly elected candidate of the APC for the Anambra governorship election,” Otu stated. He applauded the peaceful conduct of the exercise, commending both the aspirants and security agencies for their cooperation. “There are no losers here. We are one family, and we move forward united behind our candidate.”
A total of 1,630 delegates were expected at the primaries, with 1,582 accredited for voting.
In his acceptance remarks, Ukachukwu thanked President Bola Tinubu and the party leadership for ensuring a credible and transparent process. He emphasized the historic nature of the exercise, noting it was the first time in Anambra APC’s history that a primary was conducted without allegations of result manipulation.
“This marks not a destination but the beginning of a determined journey,” Ukachukwu said. “Challenging an incumbent is no small feat, but with unity, faith, and hard work, we can deliver Anambra to the APC.”
He called on fellow aspirants and party members to rally behind his candidacy, pledging not to let the party down. “We must close ranks and approach this task as one united family. I will not disappoint.”
Ukachukwu previously served as a member of the House of Representatives, representing Abuja Municipal Area Council in 1999. He will now face the incumbent, Governor Chukwuma Soludo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), in what is expected to be a closely watched contest.
