The All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Anambra State, Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu, has firmly denied rumors of an alliance between President Bola Tinubu and incumbent Governor Chukwuma Soludo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).
Ukachukwu made this clarification on Saturday during a grand reception organized for him at Chinua Achebe Airport following his visit to President Tinubu in Abuja. The event also served as a platform to unveil Senator Uche Ekwunife as his running mate for the upcoming gubernatorial election.
"APC is Tinubu and Tinubu is APC, so they (APGA/Soludo) should not lie to you that they are in alliance with us. We are the APC, it is our party, we will win and we are not partnering with anybody," Ukachukwu declared to party stakeholders.
The APC candidate revealed that President Tinubu had given him a clear mandate during their meeting in Abuja. "We met with the President in Abuja, and he said to us 'go and get me Anambra State and connect Anambra to the centre'. That is a mandate, and I want to give you the same mandate to go and gather your people for us to connect Anambra to the centre," he stated.
Questioning the narrative pushed by his opponents, Ukachukwu added, "If APC is non-existent in Anambra State, and not powerful as they claim, if they are not afraid of APC, why are they using our name to campaign? I want to tell you all that it is over for APGA in Anambra State and we will make it happen."
Ekwunife Unveiled as Running Mate
In a significant political move, Ukachukwu introduced Senator Uche Ekwunife as his deputy governorship candidate. "I'm here to introduce to you today the very qualified deputy governorship candidate, my running mate. She is a political juggernaut, someone who we all know, she is Senator Uche Ekwunife," he announced.
The APC candidate expressed confidence in their joint capability to win the election but emphasized the need for grassroots support. "I and Ekwunife are capable of the task but we need your support to do it. Take this message to the grassroot, no one should deceive you any longer," he urged party members.
Anambra APC Chairman, Mr. Basil Ejidike, reinforced Ukachukwu's statements, saying the meeting with President Tinubu had "set records straight" regarding the alleged alliance rumors. "Today is a great day. The man we are here with is coming straight from the Presidential Villa. Weeks ago they were making jest of us about an alliance, but now it is clear there is no alliance between APGA and President Tinubu. We are already marching to the Government House," Ejidike stated.
The chairman further confirmed that national APC officers and the presidency have endorsed Ukachukwu as their governorship candidate. "The national officers and the presidency have all confirmed that Ukachukwu is our governorship candidate, so we are more stronger now. Ukachukwu is the man will will go to war with as our candidate," he added.
This development comes as political activities intensify ahead of the Anambra gubernatorial election, with the APC seeking to challenge APGA's dominance in the state.
