By Michael Chibuzo
Saturday 8th February, 2025 will remain a historic day in the history of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Anambra State as the APC made its boldest statement of intent to end the reign of APGA in Anambra State come November 2025. On this day, the National Chairman of the APC, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje came with members of the party’s NWC to commission the magnificent edifice donated to the Anambra APC by the frontline governorship aspirant of the party, Sir Paul Chukwuma (Onwa Umueri).
The journey to this momentous day did not happen by chance. It started in 2023 when Sir Paul Chukwuma, a foundation member of the APC and former APC NWC member began a deliberate but ambitious revamp and rebranding mission for the APC in Anambra State to reposition it to become the most viable platform to bring to a swift end APGA’s stranglehold on Anambra.
Sir Paul Chukwuma breathed life into an APC that was basically on life support after the 2023 general elections, made the party to start believing again in its capacity to rescue Anambra State from the fangs of APGA misgovernance. He energised the various organs of the party in Anambra State starting from the State Working Committee, the Zonal Executive Committee down to the Local Government and Ward party structures.
His motivation was very simple, Sir Paul Chukwuma believed that if the APC electoral vehicle was to form government in Anambra State, that vehicle MUST be in sound health to lead the charge. This thinking informed his “APC First” mantra. Without prompting, Sir Paul Chukwuma promised to provide a new state secretariat befitting the status of the APC as the ruling party at the center and the main opposition party in Anambra State. It was obvious that the party had outgrown the old Glass House secretariat.
Fast-forward just over a year later and this great visionary has now delivered a magnificent, well-furnished edifice to the party in keeping with his promise. Not only that, Sir Paul Chukwuma went on to provide funds to secure decent secretariats for the 21 Local Government chapters of the APC in Anambra State as well as ward offices. The rebranding of the APC as the beautiful bride was truly underway!
Sir Paul Chukwuma did not stop at these physical restructuring of the party across the state to make it very visible, he also provided occasional financial backing for the party to carry out its activities including a N100 million donation to the APC last year. Sir Paul Chukwuma continued to break records when he donated a brand new Toyota 2020 Hiace bus to the Youth Wing of the APC, marking the first time the youth arm of the party is having an official vehicle.
It was therefore not surprising that APC began to witness an influx of members both big and small into its fold. When others saw gloom and doom hanging around the party, Sir Paul Chukwuma, saw a party he calls his home that needs resuscitation and a dose of self-belief. Today, APC is the party to beat in 2025 Anambra governorship election, boasting an array of new entrants including those who few years ago were vying for the governorship tickets in all of the major political parties pulling weight in Anambra State. They joined because they saw promise in the party thanks to the doggedness of Sir Paul Chukwuma and all the other loyal stakeholders who at various times did their bit to keep the APC’s head above water.
As we enter the critical phase of APC’s journey to Agu Awka Government House, it is natural that the man who started the modern APC renaissance in Anambra State, Sir Paul Chukwuma should lead the party to the November 2025 election and complete the mission that he began. There is no room for a change of baton in a marathon race. Sir Paul Chukwuma, as the brainchild of APC’s resurgence in Anambra State is in the best possible position to implement his blueprint to victory.
Sir Paul Chukwuma has shown uncommon capacity in energising the party and has also kept his promises to the party. There is one more promise that he intends to keep – leading APC as its 2025 Guber Candidate to kick out APGA and Soludo from their shaky emperor seat in Agu Awka or the new government house in the three arms zone or wherever he maybe residing in as at November 8, 2025. This is the Sir Paul Chukwuma solemn pledge!