By Sophia Afolabi
A member of the Anambra State House of Assembly representing Nnewi North Constituency, Hon. Augustine Onyekachukwu Ike, has declared that Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) may not return for a second term after the November 8 governorship election.
Ike, who recently dumped the Young Progressives Party (YPP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC), stated this while speaking to journalists in his constituency office in Nnewi. The lawmaker said that the outcome of the election could shock many, warning Soludo not to assume victory was guaranteed.
“He who thinks he is standing should be careful, lest he falls,” Ike said. “Anything can happen in November. If Soludo loses, he won’t be the first sitting governor to lose. We had Mbadinuju who served only one term. Even Lagos once had a one-term governor. So, Anambra is not different.”
The lawmaker accused Soludo of poor performance, saying that the governor’s record in peace, security, and development was not enough to earn him another term.
“If I were a voter, I would not be looking at certificates or credentials,” he said. “I would be looking at peace, security, and development in the state and the people can judge for themselves.”
Reacting to allegations that he received ₦50 million from Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu to join the APC, Ike dismissed the claim as baseless blackmail by political opponents.
“Let those making the allegation provide proof,” he said. “When I joined APGA in the past, similar rumours were spread. I want to ask Soludo if he couldn’t give me money to join his party, why would anyone else give me money?
Speaking of the internal crisis in the Anambra House of Assembly, which led to the suspension of Hon. Bernard Udemezue from Ayamelum Constituency, Ike blamed the leadership for mishandling the situation.
He said the crisis, which has exposed divisions in the legislature, also contributed to the growing opposition against Soludo.
“If I were the Speaker, the matter wouldn’t have escalated,” he said. “It started with deprivation and agitation that could have been resolved early, but they ignored it. Now the same agitation has woken Soludo up. Before now, they thought the election would be a walkover not anymore.”
Ike maintained that the APC was now better positioned to challenge Soludo and that the November election could produce an upset in Anambra’s political landscape.
