Anambra governorship election: Some rivals only seeking popularity, not truly contesting – Soludo

The governor of Anambra State, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, has said that some of those contesting the governorship seat with him are merely in the race to create awareness.

Soludo stated that some aspirants are simply seeking recognition with the hope of becoming popular, even though they know they stand no chance of winning.

The governor spoke in Umueri, Anambra East Local Government Area, during a visit to the traditional ruler of the community, Igwe Ben Emeka, as part of the community’s new yam celebration.

He identified one such person as a son of the community, Mr Paul Chukwuma, the candidate of the Young Progressives Party, YPP.

He said: “Paul Chukwuma, your son, is my friend. He used to visit me, maybe it was in the process of that visit that he saw the governor’s seat and fell in love with it and decided to contest for governor.

“He saw the chair and said he liked it and I told him it is not his turn yet. This thing is turn by turn. His zone, Anambra North, just finished their eight-year term and handed over to me. I know what he is doing, he is merely creating awareness, so that when it gets to Anambra North again, he would have become popular.

“He was the first person to paste posters everywhere, but we know he is only seeking popularity ahead of time. That was why he moved around a little and kept back his money.

“I told him, my friend, go and keep your money and use it to train your children, don’t waste it for nothing because you’re not going anywhere. He is not contesting.”

DAILY POST reports that Anambra observes a zoning formula for the governorship. Soludo’s predecessor, Chief Willie Obiano, hailed from the northern senatorial zone. Soludo, from the south, is entitled to a second term before power rotates to the central zone.