‘It was a fraud’ — Valentine Ozigbo petitions APC appeal panel over Anambra primary poll

Valentine Ozigbo, an All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant in Anambra, says the party’s recent primary election in the state was a “fraud”.

On Saturday, Nicholas Ukachukwu, a former member of the house of representatives, was declared the winner of the APC governorship primary election.

Ukachukwu reportedly polled 1,455 votes to win the party’s ticket, while Ozigbo garnered 67 votes.

Edozie Madu and Johnbosco Onunkwo got eight and 26 votes, respectively.

However, in a statement issued on Tuesday, Ozigbo described the governorship primary as a “charade and a fraud”.

The chief executive officer (CEO) of Transnational Corporation of Nigeria said he has submitted a petition to the appeal committee of the APC, challenging the primary election.

“That exercise, by all observable standards, was a charade — a well-orchestrated heist designed to deliver a predetermined outcome,” the statement reads.

“The facts are now public: non-party members populated the delegate list; genuine party faithful were locked out or violently barred from voting; accreditation was either skipped or manipulated; and votes were counted without transparency.

“This is not just about me. It is about the soul of our democracy. About the values we claim to represent. About the future we owe our children.”

Ozigbo assured his supporters that he stands “unshaken” and committed to “staying the course”.

“I did not join politics to decorate the register, receive accolades, or shop for appointments,” he said.

“I came to be part of a generation that restores integrity to our political system, that makes governance accountable, and that builds the kind of country we all deserve.

“My mission is clear. It is to serve Ndi Anambra with humility, vision, and excellence. That mission began long before April 5, and it will continue far beyond the treachery of that day.

“Thus, I will not be distracted. I will not run to the Senate, nor will I pivot to another political opportunity for the sake of ambition. I will stand firm here in the APC, and I will fight this good fight to its just end. Because Ndi Anambra are worth it. Because our democracy is worth it.

“History teaches us that freedom is never freely given — it is fought for. Let me be clear: I am not a transactional politician. I do not seek power for its own sake. I seek it to make a difference — to restore dignity, create jobs, secure lives, and light a path for the next generation.

“The sham of April 5 was not just a fraud against me; it was a theft against Ndi Anambra. To the architects of that manipulation, I say this: the future cannot be bribed or bullied. The people are watching. History is recording.”

He asked his supporters to stay strong and hopeful, noting that the “Anambra election is a defining moment, not just for Anambra, but for the credibility of the party and the soul of the nation”.

Ozigbo added that the party still has an opportunity to correct the errors in the primary election and present a candidate who can “truly win and govern”.