The governorship ambition of Andy Uba has been dealt a major blow as his kinsmen have declared their support for his opponent Mr. Valentine Ozigbo, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Anambra State.
The decision was made by all the executives of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Uga, Aguta local government area of the state, where the Andy Uba hails from.
The elder statesmen came to this conclusion at a recent ceremony held at Grand East Hotel in Awka, where 37 APC executives led by the chairman, Mr Paul Chuks Umenduka declared their support for Mr Ozigbo calling him “the right leader to take Anambra to the promised land.”
Umenduka stated that they had to abandon Senator Andy Uba because they feel he is “the worst option for Anambra” and their conscience would not allow them to “support evil in the state.”
The latest development has given the Ozigbo a significant edge in the election billed to hold today as Aguata LGA is the home of Senator Andy Uba the flag-bearer of the APC and Professor Charles Soludo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).
Uba remains without support in his hometown as the APC chairman in his ward Uga Ward II, Christian Anaeto and other leaders like Ndubuisi Daniel were also among the 37 leaders who decamped to the PDP.
“We see in Valentine Ozigbo, a leader who will rescue Anambra from the terrible state we are in. We see in him a humble leader who will carry everybody along, who will listen to everyone,” Umenduka said.
“We see in Valentine Ozigbo the new generation leader that will take Anambra to the promised land.
“So, we the entire executives of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Aguata LGA hereby decamp from our party and join the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
“We hereby collapse our structures into PDP and throw our support behind Valentine Ozigbo. Come November 6, we are urging all Ndi Anambra to come out in their numbers and vote for PDP, the ‘Umbrella’ party which is big and accomodating to all.”
Some of the APC leaders who were at the decamping ceremony were Ezenwata Obimma (Deputy LG Chairman), Bibiana Mbamalu (Woman Leader), Vitua Ajugo (Youth Leader, Edith Michael (Exco), Theophilis Onyekwe (Exco), Chigbo Agazie (Umuchi 1), Ifeanyi Eenwamma (Auditor), Chibuike Okpalauchaegbu (Achinna 1), Ndubueze Ezebekwe, Emeka Ilo, Theresa Obiajunwa, Edwin Okeke, Edith Michael, Okoye Okechukwu.
In his response, Valentine Ozigbo thanked the new PDP members for their courage and urged them to be steadfast, affirming that the PDP would win the Saturday election.
The Anambra governorship election of November 6 promises to be tension-soaked as the contest comes down to three major political parties, Mr Valentine Ozigbo of the PDP, Professor Charles Soludo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), and Senator Andy Ubah of the APC, with the likes of Dr. Godwin Maduka of Accord and Dr. Obiora Okonkwo of Zenith Labour Party, showing promise of an upset.
