By Jude Atupulazi
The Ozigbo Campaign Organization, has accused one of the Guber Aspirants on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Anambra State, Chief Nicholas Ukachukwu, of using thugs to prevent delegates perceived not to be loyal to him from accessing the venue of today’s primary election of the party at Beautiful Gate Hotel, Awka, Anambra State.
Some thugs were seen denying entry to those not wearing Ukachukwu’s tag, while the police watched as some of the delegates were rough handled.
The unfolding events, Fides gathered, have cast a shadow over the integrity of the party’s primary process, which is considered pivotal in determining the APC’s fortunes ahead of the November 2025 Anambra governorship election, with party stakeholders calling on the national leadership of the APC to urgently intervene, ensure the safety of delegates, and restore order to the accreditation and voting process before the situation spiralled further out of control.
A statement by Ephraim Adiele, spokesman for the Ozigbo Campaign Organization, described the development as unacceptable.
”We reject the politics of violence and call for a level playing field.
”Clearly, Ukachukwu is seeking to hijack the primaries and it cannot stand. The leadership of APC should act now to prevent crisis,” Adiele said.
The State Publicity Secretary of APC, Dr Val Oliobi, who confirmed this development, also condemned it, stating that it did not represent what the party stood for. He also accused the police of aiding Ukachukwu’s men.
Eyewitness accounts also indicted Ukachukwu, with one telling how one delegate was rough handled by the thugs in the full glare of the police.
One observer, who did not want his name mentioned, described what was unfolding as a serious matter, while raising security concerns. He lamented that the police who should be guarding the delegates appeared to be rather colluding with the thugs.
He called on the APC leadership to act fast to uphold the integrity of the process and ensure the safety of delegates.
Fides observed that the fiasco at the venue had led to many rival delegates leaving the scene.
Ukachukwu’s camp could not be got to comment on the development, while the APC leadership was yet to act as at press time
