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Awka, Anambra State

The Labour Party’s senatorial candidate for Anambra Central, Venerable Tochukwu Sagacious Ikezue, has issued a stern public warning against attempts by unnamed political actors to induce him to withdraw from the 2027 senatorial race in exchange for money.

In a statement released Wednesday, Ikezue said members of his campaign council had been approached with financial offers intended to persuade him to step aside, and he directed his aides to reject any such overtures outright. He instructed the council not to engage in negotiations of this kind on his behalf, cautioning that anyone found doing so would be removed from their position immediately.

“Not a money bag”

A clergyman by vocation, Ikezue used the statement to distance his candidacy from monetary considerations, insisting his decision to contest was rooted in a sense of religious calling rather than personal ambition or financial gain. He framed his bid as a response to what he described as a divine mandate to serve the people of Anambra Central.

The candidate laid out a six-point agenda underpinning his campaign, which he has branded “Rescue, Results, Representation.” The priorities include tackling erosion damage affecting communities in the district, expanding job and skills programs for young people and women, establishing an empowerment scheme for persons with disabilities, introducing welfare provisions for residents aged 60 and above, advocating for Christians affected by violence in other parts of Nigeria, and strengthening legislative oversight if elected.

Appeal to rivals

Rather than naming those behind the alleged buyout attempts, Ikezue appealed directly to his political opponents, urging senior and established figures in the race to step back and allow his candidacy to proceed unopposed. He described many of his rivals as fellow Christians and called on them to rally behind his campaign instead of contesting against him, suggesting that broader developments in national politics pointed to a larger purpose behind his run.

He closed the statement by reaffirming that his campaign could not be bought off, and asked for continued public support as the race heads toward the 2027 general election.

Background

Ikezue, son of the late Anambra-born journalist Chris Ikezue Agulefo, emerged as the Labour Party’s sole aspirant and flagbearer for the Anambra Central senatorial seat following the party’s 2027-cycle primaries earlier this year. The seat is currently held by Senator Victor Umeh, who won it in 2023 on the Labour Party platform before later decamping to other political parties. Ikezue’s campaign has in recent months sought endorsements from prominent Southeast figures, including a courtesy visit to businessman and philanthropist Arthur Eze in Abuja, as part of a wider stakeholder consultation effort ahead of next year’s polls.

This report is based on a press statement issued by the Ikezue Senatorial Campaign Council.