Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State has officially welcomed a large number of supporters of the late Senator Ifeanyi Ubah from the All Progressives Congress (APC) into the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).
Noted that the supporters, who were once affiliated with Ubah’s various political groups, shared a common inspiration for joining APGA. According to them, their decision to support Soludo’s re-election bid stems from their belief that both Ubah and Soludo prioritize the progress and welfare of Anambra State above all else.
Soludo, while receiving the group, expressed deep sorrow over the passing of Ubah, describing it as an untimely loss for both the state and the nation. He mentioned that he had spoken with Ubah just before his unfortunate death and that they had been discussing ways the senator could contribute to his re-election campaign. Soludo also expressed his commitment to finding a fitting way to honor the late senator’s memory.
Addressing the new members of APGA, who largely come from the APC, Soludo said, “I want to welcome you people into the big tent of the APGA. I want to welcome all of you back into the APGA fold. I welcome you to APGA, this is where you belong. This is the place where every Anambra person should belong because the ideology of APGA is in sync with what Anambra stands for.”
He assured the newcomers that everyone, regardless of their years of experience in the political sphere, would be treated equally within the party. He further reflected on his long-standing relationship with Ifeanyi Ubah, noting that their bond dated back to the time when Soludo served as the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria. Soludo also mentioned that Ubah had joined APGA after an attempt to run for governor under the Labour Party in 2013.
The leader of the defecting APC members, Chuks Ogbonna, took the opportunity to address the gathering and called for unity within the party. Ogbonna, who spoke on behalf of the former supporters of Senator Ifeanyi Ubah, urged APGA members to embrace them and work together towards the betterment of Anambra. He also paid tribute to the late Ubah, describing him as a figure whose legacy will continue to influence Anambra’s political history.
Ogbonna said, “I speak today not just as Kamen Chuks Ogbonna, but as a vessel of a legacy—the legacy of Senator Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah, a giant whose footprints remain indelible in the sands of Anambra’s history.”
He further noted, “With me, I bring the dynamic Ubah Political Family, a formidable army of believers in progress, who today lay down the banner of opposition to embrace the banner of partnership under the great umbrella of APGA.”
Ogbonna also commended Governor Soludo for addressing the security challenges in the southeast, particularly his actions to combat fake native doctors. He explained that Soludo’s initiative to register and regulate traditional medicine practitioners was being adopted by other states in the region.
