Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, has accused some of his rivals in the upcoming governorship election of contesting not to win but merely to gain popularity.
The statement was made on Monday, during a visit to the traditional ruler of Umueri, Igwe Ben Emeka, as part of the community’s new yam festival in Anambra East Local Government Area.
Soludo singled out Mr. Paul Chukwuma, the Young Progressives Party (YPP) candidate and a native of the community, describing his candidacy as a strategic attempt to become known ahead of time.
“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,” Soludo stated.
The governor further explained that the aspiring candidate had invested in publicity but would not succeed due to the zoning arrangement in Anambra, which determines which senatorial zone the governorship position rotates to.
“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,” Soludo added.
