Valentine Ozigbo, one of the All Progressives Congress candidates for the Anambra governorship, has sued the Awka Federal High Court, contesting the validity of the APC governorship primary held in Anambra State on April 5, 2025.
Nicholas Ukachukwu, the APC, and the Independent National Electoral Commission are named as defendants in the lawsuit, which aims to invalidate Ukachukwu’s nomination and force the party to acknowledge Ozigbo as the legitimate candidate.
The lawsuit was filed on Wednesday, April 16, 2025, according to the court document that was made accessible to reporters on Friday.
Remember that on April 5, Ukachukwu won 1,455 votes to defeat Ozigbo, his closest opponent, who received 67 votes, Johnbosco Onunkwo, who received 26, Edozie Madu, and 26 invalid votes. The primary was held at the Dora Akunyili Women Development Centre in Awka.
The lawsuit, which was filed by his legal team under the direction of Umeh Kalu, SAN, and B.C. Igwilo, SAN, has supporting records from the party’s delegate registrations, internal communications, and constitution.
Ozigbo’s lawsuit coincides with unrest inside the Anambra APC, which has witnessed a number of defections following the contentious primary and a wave of resignations from ward chairmen, ward executives, and members of LGAs.
In the first summons, the court was asked to decide if the APC had broken its rules by permitting Ukachukwu to run for office.
According to Ozigbo’s accompanying personal statement, “For a future worth fighting for,” the April 5 primary was a “well-scripted illusion.”
“It is the responsibility of conscience to rise when institutions falter,” he remarked. I have adopted that stance—not for me, but for Ndi Anambra, truth, and justice.
On Wednesday, April 16, 2025, I made a significant move in the pursuit of justice and the truth. I filed a lawsuit to contest the validity of the seriously faulty procedure that allegedly resulted in Mr. Nicholas Ukachukwu being chosen as our great party’s (APC) flagbearer for the Anambra gubernatorial election in November 2025.To be clear, the exercise on April 5, 2025, was a well planned deception rather than a primary election.
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 Ukachukwu failed to meet the eligibility criteria outlined in the APC constitution.
He also slammed Ukachukwu for his nonchalance over the crisis that has engulfed the party’s state chapter following the primary.
“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.
“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,” he added.
Ozigbo concluded his statement with a broader reflection on the need for democratic accountability and integrity in party processes, adding, “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.”
The Federal High Court in Awka has yet to assign a date for hearing.
About The Author
