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By Myke Agunwa
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the just-concluded Anambra State governorship election, Jude Ezenwafor, has pledged to collaborate with Governor Chukwuma Soludo to advance the state’s development and strengthen governance.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily programme on Monday, Ezenwafor described his relationship with Governor Soludo as cordial and longstanding, noting that their friendship predates the governor’s entry into politics.
“I can assist him. I have been assisting him before; he is my friend. I brought him to work in Anambra,” Ezenwafor said.
He revealed that he encouraged Soludo to contest the governorship election while serving as Senior Special Assistant to former Governor Willie Obiano.
“I convinced Soludo to contest the election in the first instance when I was Senior Special Assistant to Governor Willie Obiano. He came, he did well, and there is no perfect person,” he added.
Ezenwafor commended Soludo’s efforts in addressing the state’s security challenges but urged him to do more by improving logistics support for security agencies and fostering inclusiveness in governance.
“Soludo and his security team are working. We have competent security chiefs in Anambra. What they need is better equipment, and insecurity will end,” he stated. “I have called to congratulate him, but if he doesn’t do well, I will speak. I will advise Governor Chukwuma Soludo to run an inclusive government so that Anambra will be very safe and prosperous.”
Reacting to allegations of vote-buying during the election, Ezenwafor dismissed them as exaggerated and politically motivated.
“That’s their opinion. I intend to challenge in court whether vote-buying is not election rigging. Almost five political parties engaged in vote-buying. If you remove the five, you will find me. I did not buy votes,” he said.
He also denied being a placeholder candidate, saying his decision to contest was genuine and financially demanding.
“Nobody will throw away over ₦80 million to clinch a party ticket just to be a figurehead. Am I stupid? I had the intention to run,” he said. “I even suspect they were the ones that shot me. I thank God I’m alive.”
Ezenwafor alleged that he survived an assassination attempt during the campaign, which left him hospitalised for nearly three months, adding that his ambition was inspired by the desire to revive the PDP in Anambra.
“The PDP was in a comatose state when I came in. I decided to run, but I was shocked when there was an attempt on my life,” he said.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Sunday declared Governor Soludo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) winner of the November 8 governorship election.
Announcing the results, the State Returning Officer, Prof. Omoregie Edoba, said Soludo polled 422,664 votes, defeating Nicholas Ukachukwu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who scored 99,445 votes.
Paul Chukwuma of the Young Progressives Party (YPP) came third with 37,753 votes, while George Moghalu of the Labour Party (LP) garnered 10,576 votes. John Nwosu of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) scored 8,208 votes, and Ezenwafor of the PDP received 1,401 votes.
INEC reported that 598,229 voters were accredited out of 2,788,864 registered voters, with 584,054 valid votes and 11,244 rejected ballots recorded.