A former member of the house of representatives, Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu, has secured the All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial ticket for the Anambra governorship election.

He clinched the party’s ticket after winning the primaries held on Saturday night at the Dora Akunyili Women Development Center in Awka, the state capital.

Ukachukwu secured 1,455 votes, defeating his closest rival, Valentine Ozigbo, who garnered 67 votes. Other contestants included Johnbosco Onunkwo, who received 26 votes, Edozie Madu with 8 votes, and 26 invalid votes.

The results were announced by the Chairman of the APC Electoral Committee and Governor of Cross River State, Bassey Edet Otu.

In his acceptance speech, Prince Ukachukwu expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for ensuring a transparent and seamless election process.

He also thanked the APC National Working Committee, Governor Otu, his fellow aspirants, and all delegates for their roles in the successful conduct of the primary election.

Ukachukwu urged other aspirants to set aside differences and rally behind his candidacy, emphasizing that “the most important thing now is to deliver Anambra to the APC.”

He reassured party members and the people of Anambra of his unwavering commitment to their trust and promised not to disappoint them.

He also expressed his readiness to challenge the current administration of Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo, the candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

“We will deliver Anambra to the APC. Let me make this clear: No one has won the governorship of Anambra without my support. It has never happened before, and it will not happen this time,” Ukachukwu stated.

With Ukachukwu now officially the APC flagbearer, he will face stiff competition from the incumbent governor, Soludo, who had already secured the ticket for the APGA, as well as Chief George Moughalu, who emerged victorious in the Labour Party’s primaries held on Saturday.