Soludo’s intimidation of Community, Market Leaders to support him won’t prevent APC’s Victory in November- APC Gov’ship Candidate, Ukachukwu

Elochukwu Benjamin

Awka

The All Progressives Congress, APC candidate for the November 8 Governorship Election in Anambra State, Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu has accused Governor Chukwuma Soludo of coercing and intimidating leaders of communities and markets in the state, into supporting his re-election bid.

According to Ukachukwu, the governor’s desperate moves were because of his poor performance in the state governance, which has cast a shadow of doubt over his chances at the November polls.

Ukachukwu, made the disclosure in a chat with newsmen in Awka, the state capital, after he concluded his tour of the 21 Local Government Areas of the state and the wards.

Ukachukwu addressing newsmen in Awka

According to Ukachukwu, the governor has issued a directive to presidents-general and traditional rulers of communities not to receive any other governorship candidate in the November election.

The APC candidate alleged that the governor is aware of the impending defeat that awaits him in November, and is now clinching on every straw to remain relevant.

He questioned why a governor who has stayed more than three years in office would resort to such desperate moves to elicit people’s support ahead of the elections.

“I have it on good information that the governor has threatened to either remove any community leader who receives any opposition candidate, or stop their payments. 

“Today, our traditional institution is in comatose, as our traditional rulers cannot talk, even when they see things going wrong, for fear of being dethroned. A case in hand is that of the traditional ruler of Onitsha. 

“Why does the governor have to set up caretaker committees in markets simply because he thinks he cannot control the present leadership of the markets? This is not democracy,” Ukachukwu retorted.

Ukachukwu, who is popularly known as Ikukuoma, however, noted that the tour he just concluded brought a new ray of hope for the people, who, he said, were already tired of the deceit of the incumbent government.

He revealed that the people during the tour showed their belief in his ability to turn around the governance of the state for the better, describing the support he got from them as organic and not bought.

The APC governorship candidate, who also reacted to Governor Soludo’s comments branding his opponents as fundraisers, said the governor was simply ‘playing to the gallery’, wondering why the sincere donation of a support group to his campaigns will be rattling the governor.

Ukachukwu asked the governor to reveal the source of the funds he is using for his campaigns, noting that the governor has emasculated the local government funds to be able to prosecute his campaigns.

“What is the fuss about SOFIG raising N150 million naira to support my campaign? Why is it troubling Soludo? 

“He should tell Ndi Anambra whether it is his salary as a professor that he is using to prosecute his campaigns. What about all the local government monies he is collecting, rendering the LGA system in the state ineffective? 

“The governor must understand that Anambra people are wise and now know better. Come November 8, 2025, they will troop out in their numbers to vote for the APC, the only party that will connect the state to the centre. 

“Soludo had his opportunity, and he flopped it. Now is the time for the real people to come into the state governance and make life better for the people,” Ukachukwu posited.