Valentine Ozigbo Files Suit Against APC, Seeks Nullification of Anambra Guber Primary Outcome

 

AWKA — Discontent over the recently concluded All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primary in Anambra State has escalated to the courtroom, as Mr. Valentine Ozigbo, a governorship aspirant, on Friday approached the Federal High Court in Awka to challenge the outcome of the controversial election.

The legal action, filed against the APC, the declared winner Mr. Nicholas Ukachukwu, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), seeks to overturn Ukachukwu’s nomination. Ozigbo, through his lead counsel, Umeh Kalu, SAN, and B.C. Igwilo, SAN, is asking the court to declare him the rightful candidate of the party.

At the heart of the suit is Ozigbo’s claim that the April 5, 2025, primary, conducted at the Prof Dora Akunyili Women Development Centre in Awka, failed to meet the basic tenets of a democratic electoral process. He described the event as chaotic, alleging the use of a questionable delegate list, the exclusion of authentic party members, and a widespread breakdown of order marred by violence and intimidation.

“The primary was not an election; it was a scripted illusion,” Ozigbo declared in a personal statement titled “For a Future Worth Fighting For.” In it, he underscored that his legal action is not motivated by personal ambition but by a deep-seated commitment to justice, transparency, and the future of democratic leadership in Anambra.

“When institutions falter, it is the duty of conscience to rise,” he wrote. “I have taken that stand—not for self, but for truth, for justice, and for Ndi Anambra.”

The aspirant alleged that what took place on April 5 was little more than an orchestrated masquerade, lacking in transparency and accountability. “No accreditation, no order—just thugs, violence, and a herd of hired hands masquerading as delegates,” he said, painting a grim picture of what was supposed to be a pivotal moment in the APC’s electoral calendar.

Ozigbo also questioned the eligibility of Mr. Ukachukwu to contest in the first place, stating that he did not satisfy the basic requirements 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 said. “He failed to meet the minimum threshold for eligibility. And yet, the party machinery was twisted to serve his ambition.”

Beyond the courtroom drama, the political ripples from the disputed primary have already started to manifest within the APC in Anambra. Ozigbo pointed to an exodus of disillusioned members and a series of resignations from local government and ward-level executives as signs of an internal crisis threatening to engulf the party.

“While he fiddles like Emperor Nero, APC in Anambra is burning,” Ozigbo said, making a scathing comparison to the Roman emperor. “The house is on fire—mass resignations, lawsuits, broken trust—and the so-called candidate dances, oblivious to the smoke and embers.”

He condemned what he described as Ukachukwu’s cavalier attitude in the face of the chaos that has since rocked the party, accusing him of declaring the process “free and fair” despite its glaring irregularities.

The suit is backed by documentary evidence, including excerpts from the party’s constitution, internal communications, and alleged discrepancies in delegate registers. Legal analysts suggest the case could have significant implications for the APC's standing in the state, particularly as the party struggles to present a united front ahead of the general elections.

Ozigbo concluded his statement with a call for accountability and a plea for party reform. “Our aim is not to fracture the party but to fortify it,” he stated. “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,” he added. “We stood up. We spoke out. We acted—for justice, for our children, and for the future we all deserve.”

As the legal battle unfolds, all eyes now turn to the Federal High Court in Awka, where the future of the APC’s governorship ticket in Anambra may soon be determined.