Valentine Ozigbo, a former governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and now a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has formally petitioned the Appeals Committee of his party, rejecting the outcome of the recently conducted Anambra State APC governorship primary election held on April 5, 2025.
Describing the exercise as a “charade” and “well-orchestrated heist,” Ozigbo alleged massive irregularities and manipulation, asserting that the primary was anything but democratic.
In a passionate statement shared with his supporters and party members, Ozigbo declared, “Yesterday, I formally submitted a petition to the Appeals Committee of our great party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), challenging the so-called primary election conducted in Anambra on April 5, 2025. That exercise, by all observable standards, was a charade — a well-orchestrated heist designed to deliver a predetermined outcome.”
He detailed a litany of alleged infractions during the primary, which he claimed undermined the very essence of internal party democracy. According to him, “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.”
For Ozigbo, the implications of the flawed process extend beyond personal loss, touching on deeper issues of democratic values and the future of governance in Anambra State.
“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,” he emphasized.
Amid speculations about his next political move, the respected business executive and political reform advocate made his intentions unmistakably clear: “I will stay the course. I did not join politics to decorate the register, receive accolades, or shop for appointments. I came to be part of a generation that restores integrity to our political system.”
Reaffirming his commitment to the people of Anambra and to the APC, Ozigbo stated unequivocally: “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.”
He likened the battle ahead to historic struggles for justice and freedom, invoking the legacy of civil rights icons and liberation heroes.
“Oppression always fights back before it breaks. That is what we are witnessing today: the dying kicks of a system scared of change. But Anambra must change for good. And it will,” he declared with resolve.
Ozigbo also took a swipe at those he believes orchestrated the manipulation of the process, warning, “The future cannot be bribed or bullied. The people are watching. History is recording.”
He thanked his loyal supporters — whom he referred to as “the dreamers, the believers, the Valiants, and the tireless builders of this Movement” — urging them to remain resilient in the face of injustice. “Stay strong. Stay hopeful. We will not back down. We will not break.”
In closing, he called on the APC leadership to salvage the integrity of the party by rectifying the wrongs of the April 5 primary. “Let us remind the APC that this election is a defining moment — not just for Anambra, but for the credibility of our party and the soul of our nation. The Party still has a chance to right this wrong and present a candidate who can truly win and govern.”
Valentine Ozigbo’s petition and defiant tone have added a new dimension to the APC’s primary fallout in Anambra, as the party leadership faces mounting pressure to address the grievances or risk alienating a significant segment of its base ahead of the governorship election.
