Valentine Ozigbo, a governorship aspirant under the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Anambra State, has boldly declared that he is the only politician capable of defeating the incumbent governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, in the upcoming 2025 gubernatorial election.
Ozigbo made this assertion on Sunday during an interview with Rudolf Okonkwo on 90MinutesAfrica, where he discussed his political journey, his chances in the election, and his perspectives on governance in Anambra State.
A seasoned business executive, Ozigbo was the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2021 Anambra gubernatorial election, where he emerged as the runner-up behind Prof. Soludo, who contested under the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA). Following the 2021 election, Ozigbo switched political allegiances, defecting to the Labour Party (LP) ahead of the 2023 presidential election, where he was a strong supporter of Peter Obi’s candidacy. However, in February 2024, he once again switched parties, joining the APC in preparation for his renewed bid for the governorship position.
Ozigbo, who previously served as the CEO of Transnational Corporation of Nigeria (Transcorp), officially declared his intention to contest the Anambra governorship election in 2025 under the APC platform. Speaking on his prospects in the election, he expressed confidence in his ability to unseat Governor Soludo, arguing that key political stakeholders in the state recognize his strength and viability as a candidate.
According to Ozigbo, his political journey began in 2021 when he contested against heavyweights like Soludo, who enjoyed the full backing of the then-incumbent governor, and Andy Uba, who had the federal support as the APC candidate at the time. Despite these formidable challenges, Ozigbo noted that he defied the odds and finished second in the election, surpassing the APC candidate.
He further emphasized his political commitment and ideological stance by referencing his support for Peter Obi in the 2023 presidential election. Ozigbo claimed that while Governor Soludo was openly criticizing Obi’s presidential ambition, he took a different path by actively supporting the former Anambra governor.
As the 2025 governorship election draws closer, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has set the window for political parties to conduct their primaries between March 20 and April 10, 2025. Ozigbo’s declaration signals the beginning of an intense political contest as various parties prepare for the election scheduled for November 2025.
