The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the recent Anambra State governorship election, Jude Ezenwafor, says he is ready to work with Governor Chukwuma Soludo to support the state’s development.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Monday, Ezenwafor described his relationship with Soludo as cordial, noting that he played a role in encouraging him to contest the governorship.
“I can assist him. I have been assisting him before; he is my friend. I brought him to work in Anambra,” he said.
He added that while serving as Senior Special Assistant to former Governor Willie Obiano, he persuaded Soludo to join the race. “He came, he did well, and there is no perfect person.”
Ezenwafor urged Soludo to strengthen inclusive governance and improve security, saying the administration’s security team had performed well so far. “What they need is better equipment, and insecurity will end,” he said. He added that although he had congratulated the governor, he would speak up if performance declines.
On allegations of vote-buying, Ezenwafor dismissed the claims as exaggerated and said multiple parties engaged in the practice. He said he planned to test the matter in court. “Almost five political parties engaged in vote-buying… I did not buy votes,” he said.
He rejected suggestions that he was a placeholder candidate, saying he invested heavily in his campaign and survived an alleged assassination attempt that kept him hospitalised for nearly three months.
The Independent National Electoral Commission on Sunday declared Soludo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance winner of the November 8 election with 422,664 votes.
He defeated the All Progressives Congress candidate, Nicholas Ukachukwu, who polled 99,445 votes. The Young Progressives Party’s Paul Chukwuma scored 37,753 votes, the Labour Party’s George Moghalu had 10,576, while Ezenwafor finished with 1,401 votes.