A prominent member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former House of Representatives member, Ifeanyi Ibezi, has officially left the party and pledged his support for the re-election of Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo.
Ibezi, who previously represented Idemili North and South Federal Constituency in the 9th National Assembly, made the announcement during a meeting with his political associates at his residence in Abatete, Idemili North Local Government Area, on Sunday.
He cited the outcome of the APC governorship primary, which saw Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu emerge as the party’s flagbearer, as a key reason for his departure. Ibezi condemned the primary as a “charade” and stated that the APC had failed to present a credible and electable candidate. He emphasized that his decision to support Soludo, of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), was driven by genuine conviction and a desire to see Anambra continue its progress.
“I have switched my support to Governor Soludo,” Ibezi declared. “Just as I delivered Idemili North and South to President Bola Tinubu in 2023 and to Soludo in the last election, I will once again work to ensure Soludo’s victory in November. Soludo must serve a second term. I have visited his projects and I am convinced that he is making significant strides. If your party is not ready to win, it’s time to move on. I cannot be part of a party that is not serious about governance or victory.”
Addressing his followers, Ibezi further stated that anyone who failed to understand his political shift “lacked a basic understanding of politics.” He added, “Our support for Soludo is firm and immediate. The APC is not prepared, and we won’t waste our time.”
This development comes amid increasing discontent within the APC following the withdrawal of three major governorship aspirants—Prof. Obiora Okonkwo, Sir Paul Chukwuma, and Chukwuma Umeoji—just hours before Saturday’s primary. The trio cited irregularities and allegations of violent conduct by supporters of one of the aspirants as their reasons for pulling out. Okonkwo, in a statement, said he could not risk the lives of his supporters “in pursuit of a manipulated primary,” while Chukwuma described the process as being hijacked by “retrogressive forces.”