Anambra Guber: Works Minister’s Commendation of Soludo Unsettles APC

David-Chyddy Eleke reports that recent remarks by the Minister of Works, Senator Dave Umahi, to shower praises on Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State over his infrastructural strides in the state have unsettled the All Progressives Congress and put the All Progressives Grand Alliance at advantage.

Last week, former governor of Ebonyi State and Minister of Works, Senator Dave Umahi was on a working visit to Anambra State.

His mission was to flag off the construction of a federal road connecting towns in Anambra State, from Ogbunike, through to the second Niger bridge, to join the Asaba end in Delta State which had earlier been flagged off.

However, 2025 is an election year for Anambra, and the state governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo who rated his own performance as excellent and proudly showed it off, does not spare any opportunity to take visitors to the state around his projects. Though Umahi’s visit was a working one, but the governor also made arrangements to ensure that the Minister felt at home, including organizing a luncheon in his welcome. Soludo also personally took Umahi on a visit to his projects, where he showed him some of what he has been able to achieve in three years as governor.

Umahi visited several road projects, the Solution Fun City in Awka, the new state of the art Government House and Governor’s Lodge and several others.

During a press interview afterwards, a highly elated and impressed Umahi could not hold back his praises for the governor. He bluntly declared that: “I’m elated by what I have seen. The quality of your roads; and you know I was a governor for eight years and registered significant achievements in roads construction, but I’m impressed by the quality of your roads.”

Umahi praised the governor for his humility and the way he carries himself without any air of importance, which makes him accessible to all. Speaking about the governorship election which comes up in November this years, Umahi declared that Soludo had no opposition for the election. He said: “I don’t see anyobe that can challenge you in the election. No one. Who is that, I don’t see any”.

This comment by Umahi, a high ranking member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), a party which has remained in opposition in Anambra since its formation in 2014 and never had the opportunity of calling the shots, despite having been in power at the federal level infuriated members of the party. They saw it as sabotage, insisting that such comments were capable of derailing the efforts of the party to take over Anambra State.

But while the party members are lampooning Umahi for such utterances, a higher number of Anambra people are praising Soludo for the courage to speak the truth. These commendations and condemnation dominated discussions in the Anambra political space for a whole week.

In reaction to this, the South East APC Young Progressives Forum has demanded that Umahi clarify his comments. The group said he must explicitly state whether he stands with APC’s vision in Anambra or has chosen to align with APGA. “If he fails to provide a satisfactory explanation, party members will find it difficult to see him as a genuine APC leader in the region.

“Furthermore, President Bola Tinubu must be wary of APGA’s sudden praise for his administration. History has shown that once elections are over, APGA quickly reverts to its old tactics of attacking the APC and its leadership. If Governor Soludo and his party align with Tinubu’s vision, they should formally collapse into APC rather than engage in opportunistic flattery.

“Despite Umahi’s misstep, the APC in Anambra remains strong and focused on the upcoming November 8, 2025 governorship poll. The ongoing process to select a credible candidate will further consolidate the party’s momentum. Umahi’s ill-advised comments cannot derail the determination of party members who are committed to ensuring that Anambra finally aligns with the APC-led federal government. APC members in Anambra must ignore distractions and remain steadfast. The ultimate goal remains clear – dislodging APGA and installing an APC-led government to bring actual development to the state. The era of political betrayals and external interference is over. Anambra APC is ready to take its rightful place at the forefront of governance. Dave Umahi’s remarks were reckless, insensitive, and harmful to APC’s mission in Anambra State. As a high-ranking party leader, he should be fortifying the party’s chances, not demoralising its members. His statement must not go unchallenged. The APC leadership must call him to order and ensure that such political sabotage does not repeat itself. Anambra APC remains on course for victory, and no amount of internal or external distractions will change that,” the group said.

The party has also frowned at Umahi’s comments. The Anambra State Chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC) condemned  Umahi, for openly praising the governor of Anambra State, Professor Soludo, for his strides in infrastructural development in the state, even though he is aware this is an election year that his party, APC was in the race for the position.

The party, at a press conference addressed by the state publicity secretary, Dr. Valentine Oliobi, said the words used by the minister undermined the efforts of the party he was serving, which was also fielding a candidate for the governorship contest coming in November. He described Umahi’s comments as mere flattery meant to placate the governor, insisting that in the real sense of governance, Soludo has failed the people of Anambra State.

He said, “Ndi Anambra are not carried away by Minister Umahi’s sugar coated words for Soludo. In-between the lines of those so-called praises are nothing but a diplomatic way of expressing disappointment, especially as the governor’s newly constructed roads are already washing away. What he saw in Anambra is not impressive but underwhelming. His remarks were not a validation of success, but subtle reminder that Anambra is not where it should be. It is amusing that Soludo and his cohorts are yet to get to read the handwriting on the wall.”

The party added that such words by Umahi, even though not meant to be true, reeked of lack of discretion by the Minister, who knew that he worked for an APC government, and that his party was in a governorship election with the same man he was praising.

Oliobi stated, “Minister Umahi’s unguided utterances were in support of his business ally, Prof. Soludo. Umahi and Soludo have a joint interest on most of the federal road construction in Anambra. But unfortunately for Soludo, the days of empty promises are over, as Anambra cannot reinforce failure by renewing unfulfilled contracts through another tenure in office.”

Meanwhile, Former Chief of Staff to ex-Governor Willie Obiano, Chief Primus Odili, has backed the endorsement of Soludo, for re-election by Umahi. Odili echoed Umahi’s sentiments, emphasizing that in just three years, Soludo has delivered impressive results that should earn him overwhelming support from Anambra voters.

He said: “The endorsement from Umahi, whose tenure as Ebonyi State governor was transformational, carries significant weight. Governor Soludo has completed major projects without borrowing. If he is given another term, the chances of completing ongoing developments are even greater. The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) is not in a hurry to relinquish power in Anambra. Instead, we are strengthening our bond with the people through visible performance that no amount of rhetoric can discredit.

“Anambra residents know that the APGA-led government under Soludo is committed to building a safe, viable, and prosperous state. Umahi’s advice to the opposition should be taken seriously in the interest of the people. With the decline in abductions, murder, and robbery, Soludo’s government now enjoys greater public support. The people appreciate his efforts to transform Anambra into a livable, smart megacity. Umahi’s words may be difficult for the opposition to accept, but they reflect reality. A simple drive around Anambra is enough to convince anyone that Soludo’s solutions are working and that the people have fully embraced his vision,” Odili concluded.

As the election date draws near, there are indications that the remarks by Umahi has already given Soludo and his party, APGA moral victory over every other party that is in the race. An indigene of the state, Mr Josiah Ezendu, who claims to be apolitical told THISDAY that even though it is hard for the opposition politicians to agree that Soludo has done so well, but still does not detract from the fact that Soludo has done so well in the state and may most likely be re-elected as governor.

He said: “As for me, I’m politically aware enough to be able to choose for myself what I want for our state, and I will vote Soludo for a second term over all the other people. Some of them who are rooting to remove Soludo do not even have practical plans about how to do better.”

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