From Emmanuel Uzor, Awka
South East National Vice Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Ijeomah Arodiogbu has said that the death of Senator Ifeanyi Ubah who was a leading aspirant for the Anambra governorship election will motivate the party to clinch the topmost position in the State.
He spoke on his party’s preparations and prospects for the 2025 governorship election in Anambra State as well as the controversy that trailed the recent appointments into the newly established South East Development Commission (SEDC).
As the 2025 governorship election approaches in Anambra State, what are the chances of APC in the state?
Our chances are indeed very bright, and the party at the national, zonal, and state levels is leaving no stone unturned in our desire to win Anambra, just as we did in Edo and Ondo States. Currently, the State chapter is conducting ward tours across all 327 wards. Ward offices are being refurbished, and where none existed, new ones have been established. This effectively counters the recent claims by the National Chairman of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) that the APC is non-existent in Anambra State. The feedback from these ward tours indicates that the APC is now the party to beat in Anambra. Moreover, prominent figures in Anambra and South-East politics are joining our party. Would such household names join if we were truly non-existent or in limbo?
With Governor Chukwuma Soludo claiming his performance will ensure his smooth return to power, do you think your party has what it takes to unseat him?
Prof. Soludo’s administration is living on borrowed time. He’s only the governor because the constitution stipulates a four-year tenure. Had it been a shorter duration was contained in the constitution; he would have already carried the title of an ex-governor. I can confidently say that if the Anambra gubernatorial election were to be held today, the APC would sweep the polls. We are simply respecting the constitutional timeline while preparing for the electoral victory that will give the APC its third state in the South-East.
APC had a resurgence during the defection of late Sen. Ifeanyi Ubah and Uche Ekwunife. With Ubah’s unfortunate death, does the party still have that presence in the State?
Indeed, the defections of the late Senator Ifeanyi Ubah and Senator Uche Ekwunife gave our party a tremendous boost in Anambra State. While death unfortunately took Senator Ubah from us, his political family remains an integral part of the party. His good works and networks continue to benefit the APC positively. While we mourn his loss, his political capital remains at our disposal. We have declared that one way we will honour Senator Ifeanyi Ubah is by winning Anambra and that we very much prepared to do.
APGA has been dominating the political space in Anambra State since the return of democracy. What will your party do differently to dislodge them?
Your history needs correction. APGA barely existed in 2001 and didn’t win Anambra until 2005 through an Appeal Court ruling. So, saying they’ve been dominant since the return to democracy is inaccurate. However, they have held power since then, and we acknowledge that it will take significant effort to replace them. As I mentioned earlier, we are firing on all cylinders, doing the needful, ticking the boxes, and making necessary alignments to ensure that our party is in its best shape for the polls. That’s all I can say for now.
APC has always been referred to as a Fulani party. How do you address this stereotype?
A Fulani party with a Yoruba President and a Kanuri Vice President? This narrative is a construction by the opposition to mislead ordinary Nigerians into hating and voting against our party. It has failed and will continue to fail because the APC is the most nationalistic party since the days of the NCNC and NPN. Not even the PDP in its prime had our current national spread. Am I a Fulani? Is Governor Hope Uzodinma a Fulani? Is Governor Nwifuru a Fulani? While there’s nothing wrong with being Fulani, and they are well-represented in the APC – yes, a former president from our party is Fulani – the APC remains a party of national character, both then and now.
With few politicians showing interest in running for the governorship in Anambra, does your party has the capacity to handle potential issues?
Who said few politicians are running? Prior to 2020, APC had no governors in the South-East; now we have two sitting governors. What other acceptance metrics do we need? Regarding the Anambra ticket, I could name several aspirants, but to avoid appearing partial, I will simply say that about six heavyweights, experienced politicians are currently in talks to join the party. How can these numbers be considered ‘few’?
Will APC respect Anambra’s internal power rotation for the governorship position?
As a member of the National Working Committee (NWC) of our great party, I cannot speak on the issue zoning. But I believe we have never considered it as a factor, and I don’t believe we will.
How do you address concerns about Igbo representation in President Tinubu’s appointments in the face of alleged lopsidedness?
This is false. As an Igbo person, I can affirm that the President hasn’t sidelined any region. Ndigbo have received their fair share of ministerial and other appointments. Those suggesting otherwise are attempting to portray the President as someone that is anti-Igbo for their selfish interests, and we must resist such divisive narratives before they harm our region.
Is the current crisis over South East Development Commission appointments healthy for your party?
The confusion isn’t healthy, and as leaders, we are working to resolve it. The Commission’s establishment has a complex history, from Senator Anyanwu’s initial sponsorship to Senator Ubah’s successful revival. You see, it passed both first and second readings but did not receive President Buhari’s assent. In the 10th National Assembly, the late Senator Ifeanyi Ubah revived the bill, securing its passage in the National Assembly. Following this, Senator Ubah and other South-East Assembly members presented the bill to Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State, who, as Chairman of Progressive Governors Forum, successfully advocated for presidential approval.
The appointment process initially followed careful consultations with regional stakeholders, including Governor Hope Uzodinma, Governor Francis Nwifuru, APC Deputy National Chairman (South), Chief Emma Eneukwu, Ministers from the region and National Assembly members from the zone, the Deputy Speaker inclusive.
Now, these appointments were made in accordance with the Commission’s establishment Act, which specified that the Chairman must come from the first State in an alphabetical order, which is Abia, while the Managing Director must come from the next state alphabetically which is Anambra. Other Executive positions would then be distributed among the remaining States.
The appointment process initially followed proper protocols and statutory requirements, involving key stakeholders including Governor Uzodinma, Governor Nwifuru, and other regional leaders. But the controversy only arose when, within 12 hours of the initial appointments, a revised list emerged featuring five of the Deputy Speaker’s aides, inserted without consensus from South-East leadership.
New positions were created outside the statutory framework, concentrating power under one individual. This has raised concerns about resource control, accountability, and fair representation, particularly for States like Imo and Ebonyi that delivered significant votes for President Tinubu. We are working to rectify this situation, but justice must prevail and consensus must be reached for the benefit of all stakeholders.
Is the rumour about Governor Soludo’s possible defection to the APC true?
In politics, rumours are daily occurrences. Governor Soludo’s purported defection is news to me. As the National Vice Chairman, I don’t deal in hearsay—if Governor Soludo wishes to join APC, he is welcome to do so officially. Until then, we should treat this as mere speculation.