The contest for the Anambra South Senatorial seat has taken a significant turn following the withdrawal of Jude Emecheta, a key aspirant under the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).
Emecheta has officially stepped down from the race and thrown his support behind prominent industrialist Chief Dr. Ebuka Onunkwo.
Emecheta, a former National Coordinator of the Anambra Deserves Soludo (ADS) movement and Managing Director of the Anambra State Signage and Advertisement Agency (ANSAA), made the announcement during a strategy meeting with his supporters.
Why I Stepped Down – Emecheta
Explaining his decision, Emecheta stated that after thoroughly evaluating all APGA aspirants, he concluded that Onunkwo was the best candidate to represent the party in the upcoming Senate race.
“Having carefully assessed the profiles of all APGA aspirants, I am convinced that Chief Dr. Ebuka Onunkwo is the most qualified to represent our party. He embodies the principles of effective representation, and we must present our best candidate for this crucial election,” Emecheta affirmed.
He also stressed that his decision was entirely voluntary and not influenced by external forces, including financial incentives.
“I had supporters willing to fund my campaign, so money was never an issue. However, after reviewing the situation, I realized that Ebuka and I hail from the same Ekwusigo Local Government Area. Rather than spending resources competing against each other, it makes more sense to consolidate our efforts and strengthen our party’s chances,” he explained.
Dismissing speculations that Onunkwo pressured him into stepping aside, Emecheta clarified that the decision was solely his.
“Ebuka never approached me to step down. This was a personal decision made after deep reflection. I firmly believe in his capabilities, and I urge all my supporters to rally behind him,” he added.
The Battle for APGA’s Ticket Continues
With Emecheta’s exit from the race, the battle for APGA’s senatorial ticket now narrows down to a contest between Chief Dr. Ebuka Onunkwo and Chief Akai Egwuonwu. As the party’s primary election approaches, political observers are keenly watching how this latest development will shape the dynamics of the race.
Emecheta’s endorsement of Onunkwo is expected to strengthen the industrialist’s position within the party, but whether it will be enough to secure the APGA ticket remains to be seen.
