Violence Erupts At APC Governorship Primary In Anambra State
The All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primary in Anambra State took a chaotic turn on Saturday, April 5, 2025, as thugs allegedly loyal to aspirant Nicholas Ukachukwu disrupted the delegate accreditation process at the Beautiful Gate Hotel in Awka. The incident has raised serious concerns about the integrity and fairness of the ongoing primary process.
The trouble began when Ukachukwu's private security operatives and suspected thugs took over the hotel gate, preventing accredited delegates without Ukachukwu's campaign identification from accessing the venue. This was despite the presence of police personnel, who reportedly cooperated with the thugs. Delegates supporting other aspirants were turned away, harassed, and in some cases, physically assaulted. One male delegate was visibly rough-handled by the attackers in full view of security personnel and other delegates ¹.
Dr. Valentine Oliobi, the Anambra State Publicity Secretary of the APC, confirmed the troubling development, stating, "Yes, it is true. Delegates are being stopped at the gate by Nicholas Ukachukwu's people, and the police are cooperating with them. It is not what the party stands for." The Valentine Ozigbo Campaign Organisation also condemned the violence and exclusionary tactics, with campaign spokesperson Ephraim Adiele decrying what he called an attempt to "hijack the primary" through intimidation and force.
Party stakeholders are now calling on the national leadership of the APC to urgently intervene, ensure the safety of delegates, and restore order to the accreditation and voting process before the situation spirals further out of control. The incident has cast a shadow over the integrity of the party's primary process, which is considered pivotal in determining the APC's fortunes ahead of the November 2025 Anambra governorship election.
The violence at the APC primary has significant implications for the party's internal dynamics and the overall electoral process. It highlights the need for the party leadership to take decisive action to prevent similar incidents in the future and ensure a level playing field for all aspirants.
In a related development, Paul Chukwuma, a governorship aspirant on the APC platform in Anambra State, has resigned from the party and withdrawn from the primary election. Chukwuma's resignation letter to the APC chairman of ward 2, Umueri, in Anambra East LGA, did not state the reason for his resignation or his next political move. However, he expressed his commitment to the ideals of the APC and President Bola Tinubu's Renewed Hope Agenda.
Conclusion
The violence at the APC primary in Anambra State is a disturbing development that underscores the need for urgent action to restore order and ensure the integrity of the electoral process. The APC national leadership must take decisive steps to address the situation and prevent similar incidents in the future. The fate of the party's fortunes in the November 2025 Anambra governorship election hangs in the balance, and it is imperative that the party leadership acts swiftly to restore confidence in the electoral process.
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