Political U-Turn: APC Aspirant Ifeanyi Ibezi Endorses Soludo For Re-election Amid Party Exit

Ibezi, who previously represented the Idemili North and South Federal Constituency in the 9th National Assembly, declared his support for the re-election of Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo.

In a meeting with his political associates at his country home in Abatete, Idemili North Local Government Area, on Sunday, Ibezi explained that his departure was prompted by the outcome of APC’s governorship primary election, which saw Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu emerge as the party’s flagbearer for Anambra State. He condemned the primary process as a “charade,” accusing the APC of failing to select a credible and electable candidate, and criticized the party’s leadership for being disengaged from governance and electoral success.

“I have switched my support to Governor Soludo,” Ibezi stated, stressing that his decision was driven by a desire for continued progress and development in Anambra. He also affirmed his commitment to mobilizing votes for Soludo in the November elections, just as he had successfully delivered Idemili North and South to President Bola Tinubu in 2023 and Soludo in the previous election.

Ibezi expressed his disappointment with APC’s performance, vowing to support Soludo’s second-term bid, adding, “Soludo must return for a second term. I have toured his projects and I am convinced he is working. If your party is not ready to win, what do you do? You move on.”

Emphasizing that any loyalist who did not understand his political shift “lacked the basic understanding of politics,” Ibezi underscored his unwavering commitment to Soludo’s cause, saying, “Our support for Soludo is total and immediate. The APC is not prepared, and we won’t waste our time.”

Ibezi’s defection adds to the growing discontent within APC, following the withdrawal of three high-profile governorship aspirants—Prof. Obiora Okonkwo, Sir Paul Chukwuma, and Chukwuma Umeoji—who cited irregularities, violence, and manipulation of the primary process as reasons for their exit.