By Cajetan Mmuta, Awka
The All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the November 8, 2025, Anambra governorship election, Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu, has unveiled an expansive development agenda focused on industrialisation, security reform, mechanised agriculture and improved social services, while pledging to defeat the incumbent governor, Prof. Charles Soludo, “overwhelmingly” at the polls.
Addressing journalists in Awka on Wednesday after concluding a month-long thank-you tour of the state’s 21 local government areas and 326 wards, Ukachukwu said his plan is anchored on purposeful leadership and strategic investment that would “restore Anambra to its rightful place as the Light of the Nation.”
“This election is a turning point. Anambra cannot afford to continue with a government that prioritises vanity projects over the real needs of the people,” Ukachukwu said. “I am confident that Ndi Anambra will reject Soludo’s failed leadership and vote for a government that is focused on security, jobs and growth.”
Ukachukwu said his administration would prioritise the establishment of industrial parks with guaranteed power supply to attract investors and create jobs. He pledged to partner with local farmers and large-scale investors to unlock Anambra’s vast agricultural potential, positioning the state as a leading food basket in Nigeria.
“We will invest massively in modernised agriculture and build industries that add value to our economy,” Ukachukwu noted. “Our people are known for trading and manufacturing, and my government will create the enabling environment for these sectors to thrive again.”
The APC candidate vowed to overhaul the state’s security architecture, accusing the Soludo administration of failing to protect lives and property. He promised to adequately equip the police, National Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and Department of State Services (DSS) with vehicles, surveillance tools and other facilities needed to tackle the rising wave of crime.
He also pledged to upgrade hospitals and primary health centres with modern equipment and staff, while introducing a viable curriculum and quality infrastructure for schools across the state.
“Our hospitals are starved of basic equipment and our schools need revitalisation,” Ukachukwu said. “This will be a top priority because a healthy and educated population is key to Anambra’s growth.”
Ukachukwu accused Soludo’s administration of diverting resources to “ego-driven projects” like the new Government House and Solution Fun City while critical sectors languish.
“Can a villager visit Fun City? These are projects for elites, not for the people,” Ukachukwu stated. “Every naira we get will be spent transparently on hospitals, roads, schools and industries, not on monuments for a few friends and in-laws.”
He further warned the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) government against using state-backed security outfits such as the Special Anti-Touting Squad (SASA), Agunechemba or Ugo Ga Achi to intimidate voters during the election.
“We are aware of their plans, but Ndi Anambra will not be bullied. The law will take its full course if anyone attempts to manipulate the process,” he declared.
Party delegates and supporters who accompanied Ukachukwu on his ward-to-ward tour expressed confidence in his chances, describing his message of development and inclusivity as resonating strongly with the grassroots.
Chukwuemeka Okafor, an APC ward chairman in Ihiala, said, “For the first time in years, we see a candidate with a plan. Ukachukwu’s blueprint is detailed and achievable, and our communities are responding positively.”
Similarly, Mrs Nkiru Eze, a women leader from Awka North, said the APC candidate’s focus on healthcare and agriculture gives hope to rural communities. “He understands our problems and is ready to tackle them,” she added.
Ukachukwu contrasted his agenda with what he described as Soludo’s underwhelming record after three and a half years in office.
“The governor has failed to address insecurity, unemployment and poverty. Instead, he celebrates projects that have no real impact on ordinary lives,” Ukachukwu said. “Anambra people deserve better, and we will deliver better.”
He urged Ndi Anambra to come out in large numbers on Election Day to “take back their state” from a government he accused of neglecting the masses.
