AWKA, Nigeria – Valentine Ozigbo, a respected business leader and a top gubernatorial hopeful, has filed a lawsuit at the Federal High Court in Awka, challenging the legitimacy of the All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial primary conducted on April 5, 2025, in Anambra State.
The suit, which names the APC, Mr Nicholas Ukachukwu, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as defendants, seeks to nullify Ukachukwu’s nomination and compel the party to recognise Ozigbo as the rightful candidate.
In an accompanying personal statement titled “For a Future Worth Fighting For,” Mr Ozigbo sharply criticised the April 5 primary, describing it as a “well-scripted illusion.”
“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,” Mr Ozigbo said.
“Let us be clear: the April 5, 2025 exercise was not a primary election—it was a well-scripted illusion.
“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.”
He further alleged that Mr Ukachukwu failed to meet the eligibility criteria outlined 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,” Ozigbo added.
The originating summons asks the court to determine whether the APC violated its rules by allowing Ukachukwu’s candidacy.
He also slammed Ukachukwu for his nonchalance over the crisis that has engulfed the party’s state chapter following the primary.
“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,” Ozigbo stated.
“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.”
Filed through his legal team led by Umeh Kalu, SAN, and B.C. Igwilo, SAN, the suit includes supporting documentation from the party’s constitution, internal communications, and delegate registers.
The legal action comes amid turmoil within the Anambra APC, which has seen a wave of resignations from LGA and Ward chairmen, ward executives, and several defections in the aftermath of the disputed primary.
Mr Ozigbo concluded his statement with a broader reflection on the need for democratic accountability and integrity in party processes.
“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,” Ozigbo wrote.
“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.”
The Federal High Court in Awka is yet to assign a date for hearing.
The full statement is republished below:
‘FOR A FUTURE WORTH FIGHTING FOR’: VALENTINE OZIGBO’S STATEMENT ON NEXT STEP ON ANAMBRA 2025
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 All Progressives Congress (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. 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. A predetermined outcome had been written before the game even began.
That three aspirants withdrew from the race is telling. These men had recognised a set-up when they saw one. A primary is the party’s prerogative, yes; but the party must comply with its own rules. It must not make a mockery of its own 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.
But I see what Ukachukwu pretends not to see. I will not stand by while the moral architecture of our party collapses under the weight of fraud.
Having exhausted our party’s internal mechanism of writing promptly to the Appeal Committees after both the flawed Delegate Congress and the Primary, I have taken this matter to court; not to chase shadows or titles but to defend the values that matter: Justice. Fairness. Due process. It is not merely my candidacy at stake but the soul of our party and, by extension, our democracy.
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. I believe the APC can be a home for reform, for leadership, for progress. But we must be courageous enough to clean our house when wrong is done. We cannot afford to decorate deceit with silence.
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.
Ka Anambra Chawapu!
#JusticeForAnambra #Anambra2025 #KaAnambraChawapu #DemocracyInAction #APCJusticeNow
Julius Okeke | Political Reporter
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