By Izunna Okafor, Awka
The Anambra South Senatorial Zone Women Mobilization for the All Progressives Congress (APC) has intensified efforts ahead of the November 8, 2025 governorship election in Anambra State, reaffirming their full support for the party’s candidate, Prince Dr. Nicholas Ukachukwu, and his running mate, Senator Uche Ekwunife.
The women, during a strategic meeting held over the weekend at at the Group’s Chairperson’s residence in Ukpor, Nnewi South Local Government Area of the state, vowed to mobilize massive grassroots support to ensure victory for the APC in the forthcoming poll.
The strategic gathering, which drew together women leaders, ward coordinators, and stakeholders from the seven local government areas of the Anambra South Senatorial Zone, served as both a mobilization and sensitization meeting aimed at strengthening the party’s base ahead of the election.
The participants, in their deliberations, threw suggestions on how best to mobilize support and “overthrow the incumbent APGA government,” which they accused of poor performance and neglect of key sectors. They emphasized the need to canvass and convince relatives, market women, church members, and colleagues to support APC at the polls, while also educating voters on the party’s logo, voting procedures, and how to properly thumbprint to avoid invalid votes.
They further stressed the importance of appointing trusted and loyal party agents to safeguard votes during the election, cautioning against the use of saboteurs or persons with divided political interests.
Speaking in an interview with this reporter shortly after the meeting, the Convener and Chairperson of the Anambra South Senatorial Zone Women Mobilization for APC, Hon. Barr. Mrs. Rita Maduagwu, who is a former Speaker of the Anambra State House of Assembly, described the meeting as a platform to reawaken political consciousness among women in the zone and prepare them to deliver their respective polling units for the APC.
According to her, the group’s primary focus is to ensure that Anambra South delivers an overwhelming victory for the APC, stressing that Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu’s candidacy represents hope for security, development, and good governance.
“I called this meeting to encourage our women to go back to their various wards and work. Our primary mission is to deliver Prince Dr. Nicholas Ukachukwu and Senator Uche Ekwunife in this election,” Maduagwu said.
When asked the reasons why Ndi Anambra should vote for the APC in the November 8 poll, the former Speaker decried what she described as high and worrisome rate of insecurity in the state under the present administration, describing it as alarming and unacceptable.
“Our sons are being killed like chickens. If you go to churches, you see young widows everywhere. We want peace and security restored in Anambra. Enough of these senseless killings,” she said.
She also criticized the current state of education in Anambra, noting that the state has dropped from first to thirty-third position in national ranking, despite the huge funds accruing to it.
“Even with all the money coming into Anambra, schools are leaking, teachers are unpaid, and morale is low. The people are suffering; hunger is everywhere. When people can’t feed, they are pushed to crime. We want a government that prioritizes welfare and development,” Maduagwu added.
Responding to claims that the Soludo administration had provided free education and healthcare across public schools and health facilities in the state, Maduagwu dismissed them as propaganda, insisting that such gestures exist only in theory and in the media.
“Go to the hospitals they boast about; there’s nothing happening there. We need governance that truly touches lives,” she said.
Barr. Maduagwu further expressed confidence in the APC ticket, describing it as gender-balanced and visionary.
“A government that has a woman at the top table will make sound decisions. Women know where the pain of society lies and can help in shaping compassionate policies,” she noted.
On zoning, Maduagwu affirmed her support for maintaining the existing rotation principle but argued that performance should matter more than tenure length.
“Look at Ngige; he governed for just three years, but his roads still stand strong. It’s not how long, but how well,” she maintained, insisting that the APC government under Ukachukwu would do quality job, and restore integrity and progress in Anambra.
Similarly lending her voice, the Deputy Coordinator of the group, Princess Esom Nwanfor-Orizu from Nnewi North, also attested that they were dissatisfied with the current administration’s performance.
“I’m deeply disappointed. Being a professor, we expected Governor Soludo to focus on education, but it has worsened. From first position, Anambra dropped to 33rd. There’s also no visible infrastructure or teachers’ welfare,” she lamented.
She also faulted the state government’s handling of security, describing it as “the worst in the country.”
“It’s so bad that people are scared to visit their hometowns. Only recently have we seen some superficial improvements, probably because elections are near. But what happens after re-election? We can’t afford another four years of failure,” she warned.
While describing Prince Ukachukwu as a visionary leader with both compassion and capacity, she urged women to sustain their mobilization and ensure that their votes count.
The event, which featured chanting of solidarity songs, speeches, and strategic planning, also saw the distribution of bags of rice and other items to the women participants as part of motivation for their grassroots mobilization efforts.
More photos from the event:
