Awka — Senator Uche Ekwunife, the Deputy Governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2025 Anambra election, has alleged that the party’s national leadership failed to support its own candidate, Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu, instead favoring Governor Chukwuma Soludo.
Ekwunife made the assertion during a stakeholders’ meeting in Awka, convened to evaluate the APC’s performance in the state and mobilize members for the ongoing party e-registration exercise.
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She lamented that despite strong grassroots commitment from APC members in Anambra during the November 8 governorship election, inadequate backing from the national party contributed to their defeat. “If the party at the national level had given us even 20 percent push, we would have gone far,” she stated. “We failed everybody, we failed our party, we failed our people.”
Ekwunife acknowledged the role of divine providence in politics, emphasizing that power belongs to God alone, but urged renewed determination among party members. “For the first time, APC members in Anambra were united and eager to win the governorship election, but we needed recognition and support from the federal ruling party,” she added.
On the ongoing e-registration drive, Ekwunife stressed its critical importance, describing it as more than a mere headcount. “This process will create a vital database determining how members are rewarded and empowered. The people registering are the real owners of the party,” she said, urging members to actively participate.
In addition, Ekwunife confirmed that the party has endorsed President Bola Tinubu as its presidential candidate for the 2027 election and pledged full support for his re-election.
Meanwhile, the state APC Chairman, Mr. Basil Ejidike, expressed concern over poor participation in the e-registration exercise, noting that Anambra and Abuja recorded the lowest numbers nationwide. State coordinator Hon. Joe Okekeuche reported that only 17,488 members have registered so far, identifying Njikoka, Awka South, and Onitsha South as the best-performing local government areas, while Ihiala, Idemili South, and Anambra West recorded the lowest participation.
