Valentine Ozigbo has spoken for the first time since he lost the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Anambra State.
Ozigbo lost out to Nicholas Ukachukwu, a former member of the House of Representatives.
Ukachukwu clinched the APC’s governorship ticket at the party’s primary election on Saturday by a landslide.
He polled 1,455 votes while Ozigbo secured 67 votes. Edozie Madu and Johnbosco Onunkwo got 8 and 26 votes respectively.
In a statement on Tuesday, Ozigbo called the process a sham and vowed to contest the results.
He said: “On the Aftermath of the APC Anambra Gubernatorial Primary Election, April 5, 2025
“My dear friends, supporters, members of our great party, and Ndi Anambra,
“First, I give glory to God Almighty — the source of strength, grace, and clarity. In moments of darkness, His light always finds a way to shine through. His mercies endure and renew each day, and for that, I am profoundly grateful.
“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.
“The facts are now public: 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.
“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.
“Now, many are asking, “Val, what next?” My answer is simple and unshaken: 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, that makes governance accountable, and that builds the kind of country we all deserve.
“My mission is clear. It is to serve Ndi Anambra with humility, vision, and excellence. That mission began long before April 5, and it will continue far beyond the treachery of that day.
“Thus, 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.
“History teaches us that freedom is never freely given — it is fought for. The Civil Rights Movement in the United States, Nelson Mandela’s long walk to freedom, Moses leading the children of Israel out of Egypt, Nigeria’s own fight for independence from the British — all remind us that 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.
“Let me be clear: I am not a transactional politician. I do not seek power for its own sake. I seek it to make a difference — to restore dignity, create jobs, secure lives, and light a path for the next generation. The sham of April 5 was not just a fraud against me; it was a theft against Ndi Anambra.
“To the architects of that manipulation, I say this; The future cannot be bribed or bullied. The people are watching. History is recording.
“To our supporters — the dreamers, the believers, the Valiants, and the tireless builders of this Movement — I say: Keep your heads up. Our mission continues. Stay strong. Stay hopeful. We will not back down. We will not break.
“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.
“May wisdom guide us, may courage strengthen us, and may the grace of God continue to carry us.”