Awka, Anambra State – Violence don scatter the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primary wey dem dey plan for November 8, 2025. Na Saturday, thugs wey e be say dem loyal to one aspirant disrupt the delegate accreditation wey suppose happen.
Sources tell Sunday PUNCH say thugs and private security operatives wey belong to di aspirant take over di gate of di venue, no let properly accredited delegates com enter. Journalists self no fit enter di venue as dem blockade di access for hours. Only people wey carry di aspirant’s branded ID cards fit enter, while delegates wey dey support other aspirants dey turn back, harassed, and sometimes, dem dey physically assaulted.
Dr. Valentine Oliobi, di Publicity Secretary of APC, express him vex over di situation, say e serious matter. “Dis no be just thuggery again; e get as e be wey we go say di security forces wey suppose protect us dey collaborate with dem,” he talk. “Delegates dey stop at di gate by people wey loyal to an aspirant, and di police dey support dem. Dis no be wetin di party stand for.”
Di campaign organization of Valentine Ozigbo self condemn di violence wey go on, talk say dem dey try to hijack di primary through intimidation. Ephraim Adiele, wey dey speak on behalf of Ozigbo, say dem dey reject di politics of violence and dem call for level playing ground.
As di report dey come, di accreditation process still dey go on, but plenty delegates no fit participate. Meanwhile, di Governor of Anambra State, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, don emerge as di flagbearer for di All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) for di election. Soludo wey return unopposed get over 300 votes during di primary wey happen for Awka on Saturday.
Chief George Moughalu, wey be di former Managing Director of di National Inland Waterways Authority, also emerge as di candidate of di Labour Party after he score 573 votes, defeating him only rival John Nwosu wey just get 19 votes during di primary wey happen for Finotel Hotel, Awka, on di same Saturday.
Di primary election no be small matter; di Independent National Electoral Commission and some electoral observers dey present for di event. Out of di 649 delegates wey suppose show, 601 people get accredited with a record of 592 valid votes wey dem cast and five invalid votes.
As all dis dey happen, di Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) don push dem governorship primary from April 5 to April 8. Chidi Chidebe, di PDP chairman for state, confirm di postponement during interview wey happen for Awka on Saturday. E talk say di National Secretariat gree di postponement to make sure dem fit finalize necessary administrative processes and ensure say everything go smooth for di exercise. “Our primary election go happen on Tuesday, April 8. With di wahala wey dey happen for other parties, e clear say PDP no be di problem,” he conclude.
