Lawrence Nwimo, Awka
All Progressives Congress (APC) aspirant for the 2025 gubernatorial election in Anambra State, Sir Paul Chukwuma, has formally begun the race for the Anambra State House with the inauguration of his primary election campaign council in Abuja at the weekend.
The council includes prominent figures in Anambra politics, with Hon. Ifeanyi Ibezi, former House of Representatives member who represented Idemili North and South Federal Constituency, leading as the Director-General.
Other members of the council include Chief Uzu Okagbue, who doubled as Chief of Protocol and Deputy Chief of Staff of former Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State. Okagbue was duly appointed as the Deputy Director-General of Chukwuma’s campaign in Anambra Central senatorial zone.
Others are Chief Raphael Okeke, Deputy Director-General, Anambra North Zone, Chief Jude Osude, Deputy Director-General, Anambra South Senatorial Zone, Barr. C.J Chinwuba, Secretary of the Campaign Council, Hon. Hillary Udeanu, Director of Security, His Excellency Amb. Elijah Onyeagba, Director of Finance, Chief Tony Onyima, Ph.D., Director, Research and Documentation, and Chief Uche Nworah, Ph.D, Director of Media/Communications.
Also part of the council are Mr. Ifeanyi Njelita, Director of Protocol, Hon. Chinedu Eluemunoh, Director of Contact & Mobilisation, Hon. Chinedu Nnatuanya M, Director of Strategy, Planning and Monitoring, Hon. James Eze, Campaign Spokesperson, Hon. Emeka Ahonu, Director, Chieftancy and Town Union Matters and Hon. Fort Dike, Political Adviser.
Inaugurating the Council, Chukwuma emphasised the importance of human capital development, infrastructural development, and security in his campaign, urging the council to work hard to secure his candidacy.
He said, “My dear brothers and sisters, I want you to see your acceptance to serve in my campaign council as a call to serve Ndi Anambra. We are all familiar with the current situation in our dear state. Everyone is feeling the effects of insecurity and other challenges facing our people.
“The time to turn the corner is now, or else, we will wake up one day and we won’t have any state to return home to. Our message which we are pitching to our party people, to guide their decisions during the party primaries is anchored on my ‘HIS’ vision – human capital development, infrastructural development and security. Every other thing or enabler will ride on these three critical pillars.”
Speaking on behalf of the members of the campaign council, the DG, Hon. Ifeanyi Ibezi observed that Sir. Chukwuma’s decision to join the gubernatorial race was a clear sign that God’s appointed time to redeem Anambra State had finally come. Said he, “Paul Chukwuma is like a special purpose vehicle through which Anambra people are quickly coming together to rescue our dear state.”
Speaking further, Hon. Ibezi observed that “with our collective commitment and God’s blessings, we will deliver Sir Chukwuma as the APC candidate for the 2025 Anambra gubernatorial election. Sir Chukwuma is ready and prepared. He is tried and tested. He is a God-fearing family man who is passionate about service. He is ready to lead the charge to birth the new Anambra. On behalf of the gubernatorial campaign council, we thank you for finding us worthy to serve in the council and Ndi Anambra. We accept this challenge.”
Ikengaoline reports that the inauguration dovetailed into a seminar to wake the council members up to the great task, offering them a conceptual handle for the challenge they had accepted.
A seminar followed the inauguration, with lectures on pragmatic politics and team leadership delivered by Prof. Tochukwu Okeke of the University of Abuja, and Prof. Chukwuemeka Jaja Nwanegbo of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, respectively.
The council engaged in intense discussions and planning for the upcoming election, focusing on strategies to secure Sir Chukwuma’s nomination and bring positive change to Anambra State.
