Anambra guber polls:  AAC candidate, APGA aspirant, Labour Party, SDP in Nnewi South declare support for PDP’s Valentine Ozigbo  

Momentum continued to build for Valentine Ozigbo, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for Saturday’s Anambra governorship election as Chidozie Nwankwo, the candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), stepped down from the race and endorsed Ozigbo.

This is even as the Labour Party (LP) and Social Democratic Party (SDP) structures in Nnewi South local government collapsed into the PDP on Wednesday, November 3, 2021, when the PDP held the final installment of its 21-local government rally in the LGA.

The rally, which was held at Ukpor Central School, also witnessed the defection of Chief Rommy Okoli, a governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and a former Chairman of the Nnewi South Local Government Area.

The high profile endorsement of Ozigbo by AAC’s Nwankwo took place on the eve of the November 6 election and is significant for being the only such endorsement in the entire campaign season.

Dr. Nwankwo pledged the support of his entire campaign organisation, that of his Kingdom Care Foundation and his Pentecostal groups to Mr. Ozigbo and prayed for the success of the respected business leader at the election.

In a statement issued on Friday, November 5, 2021, Nwankwo urged his structures and supporters to offer the same support he received from them to Ozigbo.

“After due consultations with top aides, friends and family, we do hereby endorse the best candidate in this contest, Mr. Valentine Chineto Ozigbo of the PDP, to win the governorship election,” he read.

“Consequent upon above, we hereby collapse our campaign structures, the Kingdom Care Foundation structure and all the Pentecostal structures supporting our candidacy in this election to support the election of Mr. Valentine Ozigbo of the PDP.”

The Labour Party and the entire All Progressives Congress (APC) in Aguata Local Government Area had also decamped and joined the PDP, pledging their support for Ozigbo, who they described as “the leader who will take Anambra to the Promised Land.”

The VCO Campaign Organisation, when contacted for a response, confirmed that Ozigbo and Nwankwo had spoken on the phone and that Ozigbo was grateful for the endorsement.

Receiving the defectors from LP, SDP and APGA,  Mr. Ozigbo said the development reflects where the heart of Ndi Anambra lies.

“I salute you all for your courage and for choosing to be part of the new Anambra. We have a few days to the election, and we must determine to be on the right side of history,” he said.

Hon Apostle Modecai Jeffery Ndubueze, the Chairman of the SDP in Nnewi South LGA who led the SDP defectors and Lady Bridget Ume, who led hundreds of LP members to the PDP said they are supporting Ozigbo because his manifesto proffers realistic solutions to the issues bedeviling Anambra State.

In his remarks, the immediate past Governor of Anambra State, His Excellency Peter Obi, said he is endorsing Ozigbo because he is convinced that the respected business leader would continue the development of Anambra State from where his administration stopped.

While addressing the mammoth crowd at the rally, the Chairman of the PDP Governorship Campaign Organisation in Nnewi South, Dr Ifedi Okwenna, declared that Nnewi South is fully behind the Ka Anambra Chawapu project and would deliver victory for the PDP on Election Day.

Also speaking, the Secretary of the PDP in Anambra State, Barr CJ Okoli Akirika, said it is time for Ndi Anambra to vote for PDP, a party he described as “the present and future of Anambra State.”

“APGA is the party of the past, and we must do away with the past and embrace PDP, the party of the present and future of Anambra State. Come out and vote for PDP and ensure that Valentine Ozigbo becomes the next Governor of Anambra State,” Barr Okoli Akilika charged the gathering.

In a brief remark, the Deputy Governorship candidate of the PDP in the 2017 Anambra guber election, Lady Chidi Onyemelukwe (former Vice President Alex Ekwueme’s daughter), urged women in Anambra to vote for PDP, as Ozigbo has always prioritised the welfare of women.

“On Saturday, come out and vote for PDP. In Valentine Ozigbo, Ndi Anambra have something different; we have a woman-friendly candidate who will give women their rightful place in his government,” Lady Onyemelukwe said.

Several PDP leaders, directors of the Anambra PDP Governorship Campaign Organisation and party stakeholders were present at the rally.

Valentine Ozigbo is a respected philanthropist and international sports developer who is widely regarded as the frontrunner for the November 6 Anambra guber election. His Ka Anambra Chawapu movement has captured the imagination of Ndi Anambra home and abroad and sparked a renewed belief in the actualisation of a new, progressive Anambra State.

He is also a multiple-award-winning global CEO whose rise in Nigerian politics has captured the imagination of Nigerians. His Ka Anambra Chawapu message ignited a political movement that has been labeled “the most significant in the South East”.