Anambra 2025: Ifeanyi Ubah Strategizes To Cause An Upset Against Soludo, Ekwunife, And More

Senator Ifeanyi Ubah, representing Anambra South senatorial zone in the Senate, made headlines last week as he officially switched his allegiance from the Young Progressives Party (YPP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC)…CONTINUE READING....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Following the announcement of his defection during a Senate session, Senator Ubah was warmly welcomed by the APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje.

In his letter to the Senate explaining his decision, Senator Ubah cited several reasons for his move, including his faith in the leadership of the APC, his appreciation of Bola Tinubu’s inclusivity towards the Igbo community, and the desire to connect his constituency with the national center.

However, many speculate that this move is primarily aimed at positioning himself for the 2025 gubernatorial race. This development is perceived as an attempt to challenge the re-election of Prof Chukwuma Soludo as the governor of Anambra State in 2025.

Senator Ubah has never concealed his ambition to govern Anambra and has previously vied for the position under multiple political parties, including APGA, PDP, LP, and YPP. If he decides to run for governor in 2025 under the APC, it would mark his fifth gubernatorial campaign with different parties.

Political analyst and lawyer Barr Paul Ezechi commented on Ubah’s move, emphasizing its timeliness in line with his gubernatorial aspirations.

There are also rumors that Senator Uche Ekwunife, another seasoned governorship contender, is contemplating a shift to the APC, with the assistance of Hope Uzodinma of Imo State and David Umahi, former governor of Ebonyi State, both prominent APC members.

Ezechi suggested that while Ubah’s defection might not deter Ekwunife’s potential move, it does signal a competitive landscape for the governorship race, involving Ubah, Ekwunife, and Andy Uba, the party’s previous gubernatorial candidate.

Ubah’s defection triggered a reaction from members of APGA, with many accusing him of desperation. Some pointed out that the APC faces challenges in Anambra and suggested that his ambition to occupy the governorship seat was the motivation behind his return to the APC, which he had denied in 2019.

An APGA chieftain, Mr. Chinedu Obigwe, downplayed the significance of Ubah’s defection, emphasizing that APGA is familiar with his political maneuvers and has successfully faced him in previous gubernatorial elections.

While Senator Ubah lost the 2021 governorship election, he remains influential in the Nnewi area and represents the entire Anambra South senatorial zone, comprising seven local government areas, where the incumbent governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, hails from.

Anambra follows an unwritten agreement for the rotational governorship seat among the three senatorial zones. After Mr. Peter Obi’s eight-year term from the central zone, power shifted to the northern senatorial zone, leading to Obiano’s eight-year tenure with APGA. Soludo hails from the southern senatorial zone, and it is expected that the zone will secure a second term after his initial tenure.

However, it is believed that a strong candidate from the southern zone, like Ubah, could challenge Soludo’s position. Additionally, Mr. Valentine Ozigbo, associated with the LP and aligned with Mr. Peter Obi, is also from the southern zone, while Uche Ekwunife, another gubernatorial hopeful, has connections to both the central and southern zones.”