Valentine Ozigbo, a governorship aspirant under the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Anambra State, has filed a suit at the Federal High Court in Awka, seeking to invalidate the party’s April 5, 2025 primary and compel a fresh one.
Ozigbo is challenging the legitimacy of the process that produced Nicholas Ukachukwu as the APC flagbearer for the November 2025 election.
In the suit, filed on Wednesday, April 16, 2025, the APC, Ukachukwu, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) are listed as defendants.
At the primary held at the Dora Akunyili Women Development Centre in Awka, Ukachukwu polled 1,455 votes to clinch the party ticket, while Ozigbo came second with 67 votes. Other aspirants, Johnbosco Onunkwo and Edozie Madu, scored 26 and eight votes respectively. The number of invalid votes stood at 26.
Represented by Senior Advocates Umeh Kalu and B.C. Igwilo, Ozigbo submitted various documents supporting his case, including extracts from the party’s constitution, delegate registers, and internal correspondence.
The lawsuit follows growing internal unrest within the Anambra APC. A wave of resignations has swept through the party ranks, affecting local government and ward executives, with reports of several defections in the wake of the controversial primary.
In the originating summons, the court is asked to determine whether the APC breached its internal rules by approving Ukachukwu’s candidacy.
In a statement titled “For a future worth fighting for,” Ozigbo lashed out at the conduct of the primary, stating:
“When institutions falter, it is the duty of conscience to rise. I have taken that stand—not for self, but for truth, for justice, and for Ndi Anambra.
“On Wednesday, April 16, 2025, I took a consequential step in fighting for truth and justice. I filed a lawsuit challenging the legitimacy of the deeply flawed process that purportedly produced Mr Nicholas Ukachukwu as the flagbearer of our great party, the APC, for the November 2025 Anambra governorship election.
“Let us be clear: the April 5, 2025 exercise was not a primary election—it was a well-scripted illusion.”
He alleged that the delegate list used for the exercise contained unfamiliar names and that actual party members were excluded, leading to widespread disorder.
“A contrived delegate list filled with names unfamiliar to even the most seasoned party leaders was used for the guber primary. Real APC members were locked out while chaos reigned.
“No accreditation, no order; just thugs, violence, and a herd of hired hands masquerading as delegates.”
Ozigbo also questioned Ukachukwu’s eligibility, claiming he fell short of the minimum requirements set out in the APC constitution.
“The crux of the matter is that Mr Ukachukwu did not qualify to run under the APC in the first place. He failed to meet the minimum threshold for eligibility. And yet, the party machinery was twisted to serve his ambition.
“Now, Ukachukwu parades himself, declaring the theatre of deceit that April 5 represents as ‘free and fair.’ It is an insult to the intelligence of our people and a stain on the integrity of our party.
“While he fiddles like Emperor Nero, APC in Anambra is burning. The house is on fire; mass resignations, lawsuits, broken trust, and the so-called candidate dances, oblivious to the smoke and embers.
“To be clear, I am not desperate for power. I am not asking for favours. I seek only what is just, and what is right.”
Ozigbo rounded off his remarks with a call for democratic reforms within the party.
“Our aim is not to fracture the party but to fortify it; to restore its integrity, renew its credibility, and secure its future as a vehicle for true democratic leadership.
“Let history record that when a corrupt process attempted to masquerade as legitimacy, we did not stay silent. We stood up. We spoke out. We acted for justice, for our children, and for the future we all deserve.”
As of the time of this report, the court is yet to schedule a date for the hearing.
