The All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the Nov 8, 2025, Anambra State governorship election, Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu, has berated the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) for allegedly scrambling and falling on each other to take over the seat of a fallen state lawmaker who was a victim of insecurity in the state.

Addressing journalists in the state, Ukachukwu faulted APGA for fielding a candidate for the Onitsha North 1 State Constituency’s August 16, 2025, bye-election to replace the late Hon Justice Azuka, who was kidnapped and killed on December 24, while returning to his hometown, Onitsha, for Christmas celebrations.

He wondered why APGA should field a candidate to replace a lawmaker murdered as a result of insecurity in the state, to challenge the wife of the late lawmaker, who has been adopted by the Labour Party and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as their sole candidate in the by-election.

Ukachukwu said, “How do they feel about all the people who have died, disappeared without a trace, assassinated or kidnapped as a result of insecurity in Anambra State under the APGA government of Prof Chukwuma Soludo?

“Hon Justice Azuka died as a result of the inability of the APGA government to provide security, and now the party is fielding a candidate to replace him.

“They do not care about people’s security, as politics is more important to APGA than the lives of anyone. If you die as a result of insecurity by their government, they will just move on.

“Security is very paramount, and we will use various methods to safeguard our people when we take over the state,” Ukachukwu said.

He noted that during his “thank-you” tour of the 21 local government areas, he was received with great enthusiasm, immense joy, and tumultuous shouts, adding that the expression of hope of the people was alarming.

“The people held back tears, and they told me that Anambra has, at last, got someone who would solve their problems, that this is now the time for Anambra State to rise to become the true Light of the Nation. Being called the Light of the nation is neither a mistake nor a mere show. It’s for a reason!

“This was unlike the government in power that uses intimidation against traditional rulers, community leaders against people who have benefited nothing from her,” he added.

Ukachukwu urged the citizens to calm down as he would tackle the negative trend when elected.

Digging deep into the word of God he said, “When things are not the way they should, God always remember His people and sends them a messenger.

“I believe that this is the time for Anambra to move from where it is.

“When Anambra is called the ‘Light of the Nation’, it is not because someone wanted to speak English. That name came from the fact that Anambra was a shining light for other parts of Nigeria.”

Providing further insight into the damaging negative effects of insecurity on the state’s economic life, the APC governorship flag bearer shared a personal experience from when he managed 12 very active companies across various parts of Anambra State. He was the largest investor and employer of labour in the entire state, second only to the state government, but he regretted that persistent insecurity had adversely affected his businesses.

He lamented that they are no longer functioning because the expatriate workers and experts who were supposed to operate them were forced to leave after six of them were kidnapped and large ransoms paid.

He revealed that he never intended to participate in the 2025 election process following an earlier discussion with the late Senator Ifeanyi Ubah, who had an excellent plan for the state.

“The journey started with the party primaries where I polled 1565 out of 2640 votes from the delegates to emerge as the APC’s governorship flag bearer in the state”, he added. (The Guardian)