Politics
Anambra 2025: Soludo faces tough hurdles ahead second term bid
There are several factors that will constitute opposition against Anambra State governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo’s quest to be returned by Anambra people for a second term as election holds later in 2025.
Soludo has been governor of Anambra for less than two years, but opposition parties and politicians have started showing interest in taking his seat.
Soludo has yet to declare his intention to contest for a second term, even though it is a privilege that is within his right, and many believe he will not turn it down. The general belief is that he will seek reelection.
Despite being an incumbent, which is known to be an advantage to anyone holding the position, it is believed that Soludo will face a very tough battle in his quest for reelection.
This is not only because he occupies an exalted position which many envy, or because Anambra has severally been described as an “A” list state, which parades men and women whose brains are bursting with ideas, or pockets fully loaded with cash made from private enterprise, but because elections generally are battles.
Part of the hurdles will be as a result of miscalculations that the governor has made, which has brought him enemies. This means that besides individuals who have interests and political parties that exist to win elections, there are also institutions that ordinarily should remain neutral, who may likely take sides because they have been offended, or feel offended by the governor, one way or the other.
Religious politics
Religious politics has remained dominant in Anambra, and this plays a major role in who becomes governor of the state. Since the return of democracy in 1999, the church in Anambra has played roles in the emergence of governors.
And in this, the Catholic Church has always had an upper hand. Save for Dr Chinwoke Mbadinuju who was elected in 1999, every other governor of the state has either been a Catholic or Anglican.
These two have remained the dominant religious bodies in the state, and they are not unaware of their own powers, and they deploy it to make kings, even if it meant preaching politics from the very sacred altar of Christ.
Soludo the incumbent was himself elected on the basis of his being a Catholic, and it was not by mistake that he chose an Anglican, Dr Onyekachi Ibezim as his running mate.
But recently, Governor Chukwuma Soludo had a spat with priests of Catholic Church when he openly, in the presence of Bishops and Archbishops chastised a priest, Rev Fr Emmanuel Obimma, the Spiritual Director of Holy Ghost Adoration Ministry, Uke, during the burial of his mother. Soludo had recently begun championing the enforcement of a law which regulates ostentatious displays of wealth during burials.
The governor had himself buried his father in December, in strict adherence to the law. But in the case of Mrs Obimma, his sons, who are wealthy, chose to give her what they called a befitting burial.
This drew the anger of the governor who was at the ceremony. He chastised Rev Fr Emmanuel Obimma and his brother, Charles Obimma for such a show of opulence in a burial.
Charles, a former lawmaker, was in the Anambra House of Assembly when the law against such displays during burials was passed, and Soludo was said not to have spared anything in chastising him for breaking a law he contributed to making. He was also said to have come hard at Fr Obimma, and by extension the Catholic Church by showing his disappointment at a priest involved in such disrespect for the law.
This was said to have irked the Archbishop of Onitsha Archdiocese, Valerian Okeke, who took the microphone and thoroughly rebuked the governor for involving in petty matters and disregarding the main issues of governance.
Though the matter had been managed amicably, it is still believed that Soludo’s temerity to speak to priests in such matters may not be something to go away so easily. If the Catholic Church which Soludo is also a part of decides to fight him, his chances of survival may be slim.
Recent fight with monarchs
The traditional institution is another institution that may pose a challenge to Soludo in the election.
He recently had a running battle with some traditional rulers, which also led to the suspension of some of them. The issue had been the conferment of chieftaincy title on Senator Ifeanyi Ubah.
Ubah was conferred with the chieftaincy title of Odenjinji by the traditional ruler of Neni Community, Igwe Damian Ezeani. He was, however, suspended by the state government for doing so without obtaining the approval of the traditional ruler of Nnewi Kingdom, where Ifeanyi Ubah hails from.
A press release by the State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Hon Tony Collins Nwabunwanne, suspending Igwe Damian Ezeani, supported its action with a section of the Anambra State Traditional Ruler Law.
The action generated a lot of dust, with many condemning the Soludo government for such action. This had led to the monarch, and all others who conferred titles on Ubah within the Christmas period, tendering apologies, with some even withdrawing the titles.
In what looked like drawing a battle between the traditional institution and the governor, the chairman of Anambra State Traditional Ruler Council, and Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe wrote the commissioner, backing the monarchs.
He condemned the action of the state government, and accused Soludo of thoroughly belittling the traditional institution in the state.
Achebe reminded the state government that a stipend of N170,000 which he pays monthly to all monarchs is not enough reason for him to denigrate them that much or see them as his boys.
He reminded him that the traditional rulers were accomplished personalities in many fields before taking up the traditional stools of their communities, and should not be looked at as errand boys.
This may have sparked a war that is believed to have been managed perfectly by the state government, as Governor Soludo in a visit to the meeting of the traditional rulers recently dissolved the Achebe-led council, citing that it was improperly constituted.
As properly as this has been managed, it is believed that the election of 2025 will present an opportunity for the monarchs to draw a pound of flesh from the governor too, when he will be needing them and their subjects to cast their votes for him.
2023 Obidient’ wave force
No doubt, the goodwill and support enjoyed by the former governor of the state and presidential candidate of Labour Party in the 2023 election, Mr Peter Obi is one factor that may play a key role in challenging Prof Soludo in the next election.
Obi would like to stamp his feet as the symbol of new democracy in Nigeria by trying to install a Labour Party governor in his home state, Anambra, to make a huge statement for future political endeavours.
Besides these, through his popularity in the last presidential election, Obi has gathered for himself top politicians in Anambra State from across the three senatorial zones of the state as disciples, most of whom benefited immensely by winning political positions in that election.
These men include Senator Victor Umeh, Senator Tony Nwoye who are sitting senators, and many other current members of the House of Representatives.
Umeh, the Senator representing Anambra Central Senatorial District is a grassroot politician, who had been in All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) all through his political career, until Soludo came along and edged him out.
He was edged out of APGA in 2023 by forces believed to be propelled by Soludo.
The forces oscillated between Uche Ekwunife of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Dozie Nwankwo of APGA. Nwankwo won the APGA primary election against Umeh. But Umeh who later picked the LP Senatorial ticket for the race floored both Dozie Nwankwo and Uche Ekwunife in the contest. The 2025 governorship contest will undoubtedly present an opportunity for him to pay Soludo back.
Senator Tony Nwoye on the other hand is also a strong politician from the Northern senatorial zone of the state. He has been described as a one-man riot squad.
He has, however, been touted to have interest in running for governorship, using the Labour Party platform, even though he hails from the northern senatorial zone, where the immediate past governor, Chief Willie Obiano hails from.
But on the whole, many are of the opinion that the party may stick to Valentine Ozigbo, the candidate of the party in the 2021 election, and a close ally of Mr Peter Obi to prosecute the election.
Ifeanyi Ubah and his APC goons
Since billionaire oil mogul and senator representing Anambra South senatorial zone, Senator Ifeanyi Ubah joined the All Progressives Congress (APC), there have been palpable tension among the membership of APGA.
Previously, Anambra people have never given APC a chance. It became even worse during the tenure of outgone president, Muhammad Buhari. In the rural parts of Anambra State, many rural people refer to APC as a Fulani party, and the brazen attitude of herders during the administration of Buhari even heightened the hatred for the party.
With Tinubu now in charge, the hatred is dying down, and more Anambra sons have embraced the party. Beyond that, the likes of Ifeanyi Ubah have begun a campaign to make the state see political parties as mere vehicles used by politicians to arrive at political offices.
This has started to soften the mind of the people towards the party. Ubah, a known grassroot politician, who equally has deep pockets had in a recent interview revealed his interest in the election.
He is also touted to be attempting to oust Soludo by pairing up with another popular politician and grassroot mobilizer, Senator Uche Ekwunife as running mate.
This has sent jitters up the spine of the ruling party, and may probably be one of the biggest stumbling blocks to Soludo’s reelection if fielded by the APC.
Ahead of the November 8 governorship election in Anambra State, the All Progressives Congress (APC), has fixed the state party primary for March 29, 2025
Already, three billionaires have indicated interest to vie for the ticket without the late Senator Ifeanyi Ubah, who died on July 27, 2024.
They are: Sir Paul Chukwuma, former national Auditor of APC; Prof Obiora Okonkwo, Chairman of United Nigeria Airlines (UNA); and Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu, who once represented Abuja Municipal in the House of Representatives.
The date was revealed by the state chairman of the party, Sir Basil Ejidike to the State Working Committee (SWC), and conveyed to reporters in Awka by the state’s Publicity Secretary, Dr. Valentine Oliobi
“The decision was taken after the meeting of the National Working Committee held a few days ago at the APC National Secretariat.
“The meeting was in line with the meeting held with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) boss, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu with the heads of all the political parties a few days back.
“The All Progressives Congress found it imperative to meet and design a programme for the Anambra State Gubernatorial primary election and communicate to the INEC within the ambit of the Electoral Law.”
Oliobi, said the state chairman, Ejidike has assured that the state is ready and determined to conduct a free, fair and credible primary election that will be acceptable to all the aspirants.
“Under my watch, I will do everything humanly possible to continue to keep Anambra APC as one indivisible family through guaranteeing them a free, fair and credible primary election, coming March 29th.
“In achieving the above aim, the party will go for the election with an all-inclusive house and victory will be assured,” Ejidike said.
A Federal High Court sitting in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State has slammed a N100m damages on the embattled National Vice Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Southeast Zone, Ali Odefa.
It gave the ruling in a consolidated Fundamental Rights suit with suit number:FHC/ AI/CS/197/2024 between Herbert Onyedikachi Ovuta & 4 ORS. v. Chief Ali Odefa and 2 others and another, ,FHC/AI/CS/ 199/ 2024 between Sabastine Idenyi &13 others v. Chief Ali & 2 others, the Presiding Judge,.
Listed among the respondents are Herbert Onyedikachi, Anoke, Egbe, Njoku Nwagu, Moses Idika, Ogbonnaya Idika, Obinna Chukwu, Chief John Igboke, Mrs. Ijeoma Nome, Okorie C. Okorie and nine others.
Odefa, the Commissioner of Police Ebonyi State and the Inspector General of Police were listed as respondents.
Odefa was first suspended from the party by Ward executives of his Oguduokwor Ward in Onicha LGA on September 11, 2024.
The Abakaliki Division of the Federal High Court also upheld the initial suspension of Odefa..
Odefa wrote a petition to the police accusing the ward executives of forging party documents and impersonation of ward executives of the party.
Four members of the party were subsequently arrested, arraigned and remanded in October, 2024 over the matter.
But, consequent upon his earlier suspension, the Oguduokwor Ward Disciplinary Committee after hearing the allegations leveled against Odefa recommended the expulsion of the former zonal Chairman of the party.
On December 12th 2024, the Executives of PDP Oguduokwor Ward announced the summary expulsion of Odefa.
Stakeholders of the PDP in Ebonyi also wrote to to the National Working Committee announcing the nomination of the Zonal Youth Leader of the party, Chidiebere Egwu to replace Mr. Ali Odefa as Zonal Vice Chairman of the party.
In the suit, the applicants, some of whom include those remanded last year, prayed the court for enforcement of their fundamental rights pursuant to Order two of the Fundamental Rights (Enforcement Procedure) Rules 2009 and Sections 35 and 41 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) respectively
Odefa as earlier stated, had accused them of forging documents purporting his suspension as the National Vice Chairman of PDP, South East
Lead counsel to the applicants, Mudiaga Ehrenede had in the suit filed in October last year sought seven reliefs from the Court among which was; a declaration that the threats, invitation, harassment and intimidation of the ward executives for suspending the former National Vice-Chairman (South East) were unconstitutional and a violation of their fundamental human rights.
The applicants had also prayed the Court to grant an order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendants from threatening, arresting, inviting or intimidating the Respondent/applicants for their roles in the suspension of the former National Vice-Chairman (South East) of the PDP for anti-party activities.
Ruling on the suit, the presiding Judge, Justice Hilary I. O. Oshomah held that Odefa had “maliciously” used the police against the defendants by making criminal accusations against the applicants in a civil political matter.
The Court frowned at Mr Odefa’s used of the police to maliciously harass and intimidate the applicants in an attempt to prevent them from prosecuting the civil suit pertaining to his suspension which rendered the matter subjudice at the time of the police report.
The court held that Odefa who had alleged in his statement to the police that the defendants forged documents to suspend him as a member of the PDP in Oguduokwor Ward failed to show proof of any form of forgery in the court to support his claims.
The court issued an order restraining Odefa and the police from harassing, arresting or in any form intimidating the defendants on the issue of his suspension from the PDP, Oguduokwor Ward.
It awarded damages in the sum of N5, 000, 000 (five million naira) to each of the 20 defendants totaling N100, 000,000 (one hundred million).
The court also awarded another N2m as cost for harassing and attempting to arrest them using the instrumenalities of the Nigerian Police Force.
The court further ordered that the cost must be paid within seven (7) days of the judgement, failure to pay, according to the court will attract 10% daily interest.
Justice Oshomah further gave an order restraining the police and Odefa from harassing, arresting , inviting any of the Applicants on account of facts pertaining to his suspension.
“That N100m is hereby awarded as general damages against Ali Odefa and N2m as cost in favour of the Applicants in these consolidated suits”, the judge ruled.
At the ruling, the OC Legal of the Nigeria Police, Ebonyi State Command, Benson Emenike was in the court to represent the Commissioner of Police, while Odefa’s counsel was absent .
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Abdullahi Ganduje as Chairman of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) under the Ministry of Aviation.
This was disclosed in a statement released on Friday by Bayo Onanuga, the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy.
In addition to Ganduje’s appointment, the President named chairpersons for 41 federal organizations, alongside new leadership roles, including a Managing Director for the Nigerian Railway Corporation and a Director-General for the National Board for Technology Incubation (NBTI).
President Tinubu disclosed that board chairpersons are non-executive roles and urged appointees to avoid interfering in the management of the respective organizations.
Complete List of President Tinubu’s Appointments for Federal Boards and Agencies
1. National Youth Service Corps, Ministry of Youth Development – Hon. Hillard Eta (Chairman, Cross River)
2. Nigerian Institute of International Affairs – Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi (Chairman, Lagos)
3. Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, Ministry of Aviation – H.E. Abdullahi Ganduje (Chairman, Kano)
4. National Sugar Development Council – Sen. Surajudeen Bashiru Ajibola (Chairman, Osun)
5. Nigeria Bulk Electricity Trading Company – H.E. Sulaiman Argungu (Chairman, Kebbi)
6. National Agency for Great Green Wall – Sen. Magnus Abe (Chairman, Rivers)
7. National Teachers Institute – Barr. Festus Fuanter (Chairman, Plateau)
8. National Board for Technology Incubation (NBTI) – Raji Kazeem Kolawole (Director-General, Oyo)
9. Nigerian Institute of Educational Planning and Administration – Chief Victor Tombari Giadom (Chairman, Rivers)
10. Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria – Comrade Mustapha Salihu (Chairman, Adamawa)
11. Industrial Training Fund – Hon. Hamma Adama Ali Kumo (Chairman, Gombe)
12. Nigerian Institute of Science Laboratory Technology – Donatus Enyinnah Nwankpa (Chairman, Abia)
13. Sheda Science and Technology Complex – Sen. Abubakar Maikafi (Chairman, Bauchi)
14. Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria – H.E. Nasiru Gawuna (Chairman, Kano)
15. National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion – Sen. Tokunbo Afikuyomi (Chairman, Lagos)
16. Nigerian Postal Service – Chief D. J. Kekemeke (Chairman, Ondo)
17. National Inland Waterways Authority – Hon. Musa Sarkin Adar (Chairman, Sokoto)
18. National Steel Council – Prof. Abdulkarim Kana Abubakar (Chairman, Nasarawa)
19. National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency – Hon. Garba Datti Muhammad (Chairman, Kaduna)
20. National Bio-Safety Management Agency – Mu’azu Bawa Rijau (Chairman, Niger)
21. Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute – Hon. Durosimi Meseko (Chairman, Kogi)
22. Federal Teaching Hospital, Gombe – Hajia Zainab A. Ibrahim (Chairman, Taraba)
23. Nigerian Railway Corporation – Dr. Kayode Isiak Opeifa (Managing Director, Lagos)
24. Federal Teaching Hospital, Ido-Ekiti – Aare (Hon.) Durotolu Oyebode Bankole (Chairman, Ogun)
25. Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta – Mr. Abdullahi Dayo Israel (Chairman, Lagos)
26. Federal Medical Centre, Asaba – Dr. Mrs. Mary Alile Idele (Chairman, Edo)
27. Federal Medical Centre, Lokoja – Nze Chidi Duru (OON) (Chairman, Anambra)
28. Federal Medical Centre, Owerri – Hon. Emma Eneukwu (Chairman, Enugu)
29. Civil Defence, Immigration and Prisons Services Board – Major Gen. Jubril Abdulmalik Rtd (Secretary, Kano)
30. Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia – Mr. Uguru Mathew Ofoke (Chairman, Ebonyi)
31. Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa – Barr. Felix Chukwumenoye Morka (Chairman, Delta)
32. Federal Medical Centre, Yola – Alh. Bashir Usman Gumel (Chairman, Jigawa)
33. David Umahi Federal University Teaching Hospital, Ubuhu, Ebonyi State – Dr. Ijeoma Arodiogbu (Chairman, Imo)
34. National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency – Chief Edward Omo-Erewa (Chairman, Edo)
35. Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) – Yusuf Hamisu Abubakar (Chairman, Kaduna)
36. Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi, Anambra State – Hon. Ali Bukar Dalori (Chairman, Borno)
37. Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Shika, Zaria, Kaduna State – Hon. Lawal M. Liman (Chairman)
38. Federal Medical Centre, Katsina – Dr. Abubakar Isa Maiha (Chairman)
39. Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) – Isa Sadiq Achida (Chairman, Sokoto)
40. Federal Medical Centre, Birnin Kudu – Dr. Mohammed Gusau Hassan (Chairman, Zamfara)
41. National Building and Road Research Institute – Hon. Yahuza Ado Inuwa (Chairman, Nasarawa)
42. Sokoto-Rima River Basin Development Authority – Amb. Abubakar Shehu Wurno (Chairman, Sokoto)
43. Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital – Augustine Chukwu Umahi (Chairman, Ebonyi)
44. Federal Scholarship Board – Engr. Babatunde Fakoyede (Chairman, Ekiti)
45. Nigerian Social Insurance Trust Fund – Hon. Shola Olofin (Chairman, Ekiti)
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