As Anambra State prepare for the November 8 governorship election, Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo has come under fire for what critics describe as “gutter-level politics,” following his repeated attacks on rivals Senator Uche Ekwunife and Labour Party’s George Moghalu.
Soludo, who is seeking re-election on the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), was accused of vowing to destroy the reputation of Ekwunife, the All Progressives Congress (APC) deputy governorship candidate. His Senior Special Assistant on New Media, Adichie Izuchukwu, boasted in a weekend social media post that a coordinated campaign had been activated to “damage Uche Ekwunife’s political career beyond repair.”
The governor had also in recent weeks accused the former Anambra Central Senator of parading a “fake PhD certificate,” alleged that she had “jumped” academic stages. Critics, however, said this fixation reflected Soludo’s fear of her rising influence among grassroots voters.
At a Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria rally in Awka, Soludo further drew criticism after he openly mocked Moghalu:
“There’s somebody I saw when I was coming in… my brother George Moghalu, you’re welcome. I heard they said you’re contesting for something (laughs hysterically). But don’t worry, after you’re done struggling in vain you’ll still come back to me.”
Civil society groups have condemned the governor’s conduct, warned that such remarks trivialise governance at a time when Anambra is grappling with insecurity, killings, and human rights violations.
The South East Patriots, in a statement by its Convener, Obunike Ohaegbu, faulted Soludo’s focus on personal attacks rather than solutions:
“As a sitting governor with access to official channels of verification, he could have quietly investigated Senator Ekwunife’s credentials. Instead, he chose the path of public demonisation.”
Since the launch of his “Agunechemba” vigilante outfit, reports of extrajudicial killings, extortion, abductions, and assaults have fueled discontent. The July brutalisation of NYSC corps member Jennifer Edema and recent attacks in Ogboji and Ogidi communities that left dozens dead have deepened concerns over governance failures.
Analysts said Soludo’s actions risk alienating voters already frustrated by insecurity and economic hardship. With the election countdown ticking, many see him less as a leader providing solutions and more as a politician deploying intimidation and smear campaigns against his opponents.
