By Romanus Okoye
The Soludo-Ibezim Campaign Organisation has declared its commitment to maintaining focus on policy issues rather than engaging in personal attacks, whilst simultaneously raising serious questions about the academic credentials of opposition candidates in the forthcoming November 8 gubernatorial election.
Professor Solo Osita Chukwulobelu, Director-General of the campaign organisation, issued a comprehensive statement emphasising that the campaign would remain “razor-focused on the issues about the future of Anambra” despite what he described as “recent tantrums and despicable obscenities” from opposition candidates.
“Frustrated by the general opinion polls that SOLUDO-IBEZIM ticket is the consensus of Ndi Anambra for the election, some candidates are beginning to show desperation with intent to distract or destroy,” Chukwulobelu stated, specifically citing the APC Deputy Governorship candidate Senator Uche Ekwunife’s recent public statements.
The campaign organisation’s response reflects a strategic decision to maintain dignity whilst addressing what they consider fundamental issues of candidate qualification. “We will remain razor-focused on the issues about the future of Anambra, and no number of fabricated obscenities can distract us. We will not take the bait to get into the gutter with them,” the statement declared.
However, the campaign simultaneously argued that candidate qualifications represent a legitimate campaign issue, particularly given Anambra’s tradition of academic excellence. Chukwulobelu emphasised that “part of the fundamental ISSUES for every election is the QUALIFICATION of the candidates to hold such office,” noting that the Nigerian Constitution prescribes minimum academic qualifications for gubernatorial candidates.
The statement highlighted Anambra’s distinguished history of educated leadership, citing figures including “Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Dr. Akwaeke Nwafor-Orizu, Dim Odumegwu Ojukwu, Prof. Chinua Achebe, Dr. Alex Ekwueme, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, Prof. Kenneth Dike, Dr. Chuba Okadigbo, Francis Cardinal Arinze” as examples of the state’s intellectual tradition.
Furthermore, the campaign detailed the qualifications of previous civilian governors since 1999, including “Dr. Mbadinuju (PhD); Dr. Nwabueze Ngige (MBBS, UNN—Medical Doctor); Mr. Peter Obi (B. Sc Philosophy, UNN); and Mr. Willie Obiano (B. Sc, MBA—UNILAG)” to establish precedent for academic achievement in the governorship.
The current governor’s credentials were extensively highlighted, with Chukwulobelu describing Governor Soludo as possessing “B.Sc., M.Sc., and Ph. D Economics, UNN” and being “a globally acclaimed Professor of Economics, consultant, and technocrat” with numerous international recognitions including “the Financial Times of London/Banker award as best governor of central bank in the world.”
The campaign also emphasised Deputy Governor Dr. Onyekachukwu Ibezim’s qualifications as “a Medical Doctor with accomplished public service,” positioning the incumbent ticket as continuing Anambra’s tradition of educated leadership.
Regarding opposition candidates, the statement raised serious concerns about the APC ticket’s qualifications. According to documents submitted to INEC, the campaign claimed that APC gubernatorial candidate Nicholas Ukachukwu presented only “a GCE (purportedly taken in May/June 1986)” with what they described as “shameful F9’s in English, Mathematics, Economics, etc.”
More seriously, the campaign questioned the authenticity of Senator Ekwunife’s academic credentials, stating that her INEC submission claimed “a PhD from one purported university in the US” despite having only “GCE (December 1987—with only 4 subjects which are insufficient for university admission).” The statement alleged that investigation revealed “the so-called university is not accredited in the U.S and not recognized by the NUC in Nigeria as a university.”
“PhD with no undergraduate programme?” the statement questioned, describing Ekwunife’s claimed qualification as “a FAKE certificate from a Fake university.” The campaign argued that “once you discountenance the Fake PhD, her only qualification (as sworn under oath by her) is a GCE with 4 subjects.”
The controversy has broader implications for governance standards, according to the campaign organisation. “Part of the ethical and moral rebirth that the Soludo-Ibezim administration is executing is to rid Anambra of Fake influences on our children/youths,” the statement explained, connecting the credentials issue to broader concerns about role models for young people.
The campaign accused Senator Ekwunife of admitting in an audio recording that she would “fabricate and throw mud at our candidate and at everyone around him, including his family” in response to questions about her qualifications. This alleged admission prompted strong criticism from the campaign organisation regarding what they described as attempts to “smear the first lady of Anambra state, a woman celebrated as virtuous and a model of womanhood and motherhood.”
Despite the heated exchanges, the Soludo campaign maintained its commitment to issues-based campaigning whilst defending the legitimacy of discussing candidate qualifications. “As a Campaign Organisation, we are focused on the future of Anambra. We do not take the support of Ndi Anambra for granted,” Chukwulobelu stated.
The campaign organisation cited recent electoral success as evidence of public support, noting that “the last bye election was a mock for the governorship, and APGA scored 75% of the votes.” They predicted that “November will be even more emphatic” in terms of electoral performance.
Concluding the statement, Chukwulobelu emphasised the campaign’s position on governance standards: “The issue of who has the basic qualifications to govern Anambra will remain a legitimate issue in the campaign—both now and in the future! Anambra is far too sophisticated to be governed by semi-illiterates, and/or people of easy virtues.”
The developments highlight the tension between maintaining dignified campaign discourse and addressing substantive questions about candidate fitness for office in what promises to be a closely watched gubernatorial election.
