The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has assured that the National Working Committee has no preferred candidate for the 2025 Anambra governorship election and will ensure a fair selection process.
Speaking at the Anambra stakeholders’ meeting with the NWC in Abuja on Tuesday, Ganduje stated that the APC will present the best candidate to achieve its goal of integrating the region into the “national grid” of politics.
The APC has set its governorship primary for April 5 to select a candidate from the aspirants.
On Monday, the Anambra State 2025 Gubernatorial Election Screening Committee approved Paul Chukwuma, Prof. Obiora Okonkwo, Nicholas Ukachukwu, Chukwuma Umeoji, Valentine Ozigbo, Johnbosco Onunkwo, and Edozie Madu to participate in the primary.
The APC National Chairman encouraged the aspirants to support whoever emerges as the candidate.
He also urged them to avoid remaining neutral, engaging in anti-party activities, or pursuing litigation that could harm the party’s prospects in the election.
He said, “We, members of the National Working Committee, we are just catalysts. Catalysts are not part of the chemical reaction, but we are catalysts.
“We aid, we give an opening environment so that the election, the action will take proper shape. We are not fighting anybody among you. Only what we want is to have one of you that we can put forward.
“It is not easy to get the government from any incumbent. It requires a lot of political calculation. And cooperation is one of them.
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“And then we move into other political calculations, which we don’t need to talk about now, because we have not reached the stage yet. So, please, we urge, we beg you. No litigation, no anti-party, no sitting on the fences. And no lukewarm attitude.”
Ganduje highlighted that although the APC controls two states in the Southeast, Imo and Ebonyi, it is committed to gaining more states in the region.
He added, “Only what we require is your active participation. All of you will be gainers. All of you will be gainers if we have government in a number of states. You will be fixed to the national grid. As we have been saying, you are now a rural electrification, which is very weak link.
“So, help us to help you. You are all equal as far as we are concerned. You are all our children. All the aspirants.
“So, please, don’t have any stereotype on any of our members concerning this contest. We are all for you. Once one of you emerges, we beg you. Please rally around him and become the foot soldiers, so that we win this election. We don’t want the Andy Uba episode.”
Earlier, the Anambra State chairman of the party, Chief Basil Ejidike, praised the national leadership for organising the stakeholders’ meeting, calling it a positive development.
He stated, “I want to, on behalf of APC in Anambra State, thank you immensely for your various interventions in Anambra State APC. Of course, the intervention dates back to when you were the Governor of Kano State. I still remember in 2019 when you single-handedly sponsored the APC candidates in Anambra State. That was in 2019. I also remember when you led a team to the state.
“Let it be on record that this is the first time the members of APC in Anambra State have been called by the National Executive of our party to discuss issues pertaining to the election in the state.
“We are receiving such an invitation, and of course, for me, this is a clear signal for something good. I can’t wait to be part of the end result of this meeting and others that will follow.”
The Independent National Electoral Commission had announced that the Anambra State governorship election will take place on Saturday, November 8, 2025.
