The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has strongly denied claims made by Nicholas Ukachukwu, the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in the upcoming 2025 Anambra election, that President Bola Tinubu has personally mandated him to “deliver Anambra State to the APC.”

Ukachukwu made the assertion during a welcome rally held at the Chinua Achebe Airport, Umueri, over the weekend, following his visit to President Tinubu in Abuja. Addressing APC supporters, he stated that the President had asked him to “connect Anambra to the centre,” presenting it as a national directive.

“We met with the President in Abuja, and he said to us, ‘Go and get me Anambra State.’ That is a mandate,” Ukachukwu said, while unveiling Senator Uche Ekwunife as his running mate.

But in a scathing response on Sunday, Chinedu Obigwe, National Coordinator of the APGA Media Warriors Forum, described Ukachukwu’s remarks as misleading and baseless. He asserted that Ukachukwu lacked the authority to speak on behalf of President Tinubu.

“Ukachukwu is not the President’s spokesperson. The only people authorised to communicate presidential directives are official media aides like Bayo Onanuga,” Obigwe stated. “He should stop acting like he has replaced Onanuga or Daniel Bwala.”

Obigwe mocked Ukachukwu’s political ambition, noting that he failed to win the Anambra South Senatorial seat in 2023 and is unfit to pursue a much larger political task. He predicted a resounding victory for the incumbent, Governor Chukwuma Soludo, in the November 8, 2025 election.

“Ukachukwu is on an impossible mission. Soludo will defeat him with a wide margin, and the people of Anambra will resist any attempt to rig the election,” Obigwe declared.

He added that Soludo has already aligned Anambra with the federal government through strategic collaboration with President Tinubu, evidenced by the President’s approval of the governor’s development proposals during his last visit to the state.

“There is no vacancy in Anambra State. Governor Soludo will remain in office until March 17, 2030. Anambra is already rising under his leadership,” Obigwe said.

The exchange underscores rising political tensions as the state prepares for its next gubernatorial election, with parties jostling not only for power but also to shape the narrative of federal support and alignment.