By PAMELA EBOH, Awka

Prince Dr. Nicholas Ukachukwu this Sunday morning, April 6, 2025, clinched the ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the flag bearer to contest the November 8 governorship election in Anambra State to emerge as one of those seeking to unseat incumbent Governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

Ukachukwu, popularly known as Ikukuoma, beat three other aspirants with 1,455 votes, while Mr Valentine Ozigbo came a distant second with 67 votes, Engr Johnbosco Onunkwo third with 26 votes and Edozie Mmadu fourth with 8 votes.

At the end of the count, six votes were declared invalid.

In his speech, Ukachukwu said: “Congratulations APC Anambra for conducting one of the most transparent, free, fair and credible primaries in Sub-Saharan Africa. It is a victory for all of us. Let’s go to work together.”

The exercise which took place at Dora Akunyili Women’s Development Centre in Awka, the state capital, was billed to begin at 9am, but as at 6:30pm, the event was yet to commence, while delegates were said to be undergoing accreditation in diverse undisclosed hotels in the capital city.

It was gathered that earlier in the day, there had been heavy fracas at one of the accreditation points, with thugs hired by one of the aspirants inflicting injuries on several delegates in an attempt to highjack the process.

In total, three people, Sir Paul Chukwuma, Hon Chuma Umeoji and Prof Obiora Okonkwo, withdrew from the primary contest.

Chukwuma had cited the existence of some unprogressive elements within the party as reason for his withdrawal and resignation from the party, while Okonkwo cited violence which, he noted, might endanger his supporters if he continued, as the reason for his withdrawal.