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Tag: Valentine Ozigbo

  • Labour Party now a failing enterprise, says Ozigbo

    Labour Party now a failing enterprise, says Ozigbo

    …says ‘APGA is in the past’

    Valentine Ozigbo, a governorship aspirant under the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Anambra State, has described the Labour Party (LP) as a “failing enterprise,” warning that the party is heading for a wave of mass defections.

    Ozigbo, who was formerly a governorship aspirant in the Labour Party before defecting to the APC in February 2025, made the statement during an appearance on national television on Monday.

    He criticised the LP’s leadership for the ongoing internal crisis, expressing disappointment over how the party has evolved since the 2023 general elections.

    Ozigbo, a former close ally of LP’s 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi, said Obi has failed to manage the party’s leadership dispute, which he believes has deepened the division within the party.

    “I’m totally disenchanted with what the party has become. It is not what people think it is,” he said, stressing that his relationship with Obi remains civil despite their political differences.

    When pressed further on what went wrong, Ozigbo said he expected Obi to take decisive steps to resolve the LP’s leadership and legal crises, but he failed to do so, prompting his decision to exit the party.

    “I had a problem with Labour Party, and by extension, I would expect Peter Obi to take certain preemptive steps to deal with some of these issues in Labour Party, which, for maybe, he has his reasons not to have handled the way I would have expected, but I don’t want to be part of what I can consider now a failing enterprise. I had to move on,” he said.

    Ozigbo further denied leaving the LP because Obi did not protect his interests, adding that his defection to the APC was triggered by the party’s lack of proper leadership.

    “I would expect the Labour Party to be better handled, better led, than what I’m seeing,” he stated.

    Despite his disappointment with how Obi handled the LP crisis, Ozigbo maintained he had a civilised relationship with him, adding that both of them were now focused on their political goals.

    Read Also: Labour Party tussle moves to INEC

    He said, “Peter Obi is in the Labour Party, having his competition around the coalition, talking about 2027. Valentine Ozigbo is in the APC talking about 2025. We have different objectives right now, and that’s why I had to take my own path.”

    He said: “I joined APC from the Labour Party and I will make my case very clear, I didn’t just leave the Labour Party, I made analogies of what I think about these parties in Nigeria.

    “You have to do your checks and make certain decisions for posterity, for the future.

    “Labour Party is not exactly what people think they are, it’s almost in its dying days, and over time, people are going to see this – how people are leaving the party.

    “There is hardly any elected member of the party that I have spoken to who is intending to run for his election under the same platform, so the Labour party for me is in the past.

    “I took a decision to go into APC not because I’m here to justify all the actions of APC, I’m here rather as a catalyst for change, if this is the only option we have today; then some good people need to go in there and become an agent of change, I want to see myself as one of those agents and that’s why I moved.

    “When I moved, it became the trending topic of the time, even up till now. For anybody to say I went into APC without supporters is very laughable. Nicholas moved into APC a month before me, and nobody said anything, but since I joined, I’m already adding value to APC.

    “My moving into APC changed the trajectory. There are allegations that maybe Mr. President wants Soludo to come back because he sees him as an opponent of Peter Obi.

    “Even if that is correct, it’s an inferior proposition. Soludo must have gone to whoever to say APC is weak and his problem is Labour. So support me in APGA so that I will come back because you don’t want Labour to win Anambra State.

    “APC is weak, Labour is strong, by me leaving Labour to join APC, it is strong today – and this is why I’m fighting this battle – if you go to the real people in APC, they will understand the battle that I’m fighting, they won’t want this type of deal where Soludo is APGA in the afternoon and APC at night.

    “So he creates a confusion where you are not strengthening the party or helping anybody, so if you want to be a man, be a man and if you want to be a woman, be a woman. If Soludo wants to be APGA, be APGA – APGA is in the past.”

  • Val Ozigbo best bet for Anambra APC gov ticket

    Val Ozigbo best bet for Anambra APC gov ticket

    By Dr Josef Umunnakwe Onoh

    As the All Progressives Congress (APC) prepares for the decisive April 5 primary in Anambra State, one truth stands clear: the stakes have never been higher. For the party and for Anambra, this election is not just another contest — it is an opportunity to rewrite the political narrative of the South East, to consolidate the progressive ideals heralded by President Bola Tinubu, and to prove that the APC is ready to govern with credibility and competence in regions where it once struggled.

    The Anambra governorship election in November 2025 is not an ordinary poll. It is the last off-cycle gubernatorial election before the 2027 general election. It is the litmus test of APC’s growth in the South East and a referendum on the party’s ability to present viable, unifying leadership beyond its traditional base. This is why the APC must field its strongest, most acceptable, and most strategic candidate. That candidate is Valentine Ozigbo.

    It’s true that all the aspirants have best interests for Anambra state but in my consideration of what is the best interest for my party, the APC, Val Ozigbo meets my admiration. 

    Speculations have been rife that Ozigbo is a mole for Mr. Obi of the Labour Party, but I disagree with the allegation. It’s more like suggesting If there are mole for Mr. Obi, they are better found in the states that Mr. Obi won during the 2023 election. Ozigbo’s anticipated victory in the November Anambra governorship election cannot guarantee significant votes for Peter Obi in the 2027 presidential election.

    In as much as I hold H.E Gov C.C Soludo in very high regards, sadly, he is not a member of my political party, the APC, and in politics, loyalty to party comes first. Now that all eyes on the APC gubernatorial ticket for the Anambra state election, Val Ozigbo has had memberships of the PDP, LP, and now he is in the APC. He knows the terrain, ran for the elections, and I cannot say much for the rest of his rivals in the APC.

    For those unfamiliar with Ozigbo’s remarkable journey, he is a man who rose from humble beginnings in Amesi, Aguata Local Government Area, to become a distinguished corporate leader, a philanthropist, and a unifier From excelling as the best graduating student of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, to leading one of Nigeria’s most iconic corporations, Transcorp Plc, Ozigbo’s story is one of brilliance, tenacity, and integrity.

    As Managing Director of Transcorp Hilton Abuja, he oversaw a $100 million renovation that transformed the hotel into Africa’s leading business destination. As President and Group CEO of Transcorp Plc, he led a conglomerate with interests in hospitality, power, and energy, championing innovation and corporate excellence. But more importantly, he has consistently translated personal success into public service through philanthropy, mentorship, and community development.

    Ozigbo’s foray into politics in 2020 was no accident. It was a deliberate decision to leave the corporate boardroom and step into the public square—to answer a higher call of service. In 2021, running under the banner of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ozigbo emerged as a formidable contender, coming a close second despite running against the combined might of the federal and state governments, entrenched political structures, and financial odds.

    Since then, he has remained at the center of Anambra’s political discourse. He played a crucial leadership role in the Obidient Movement of 2023, galvanising the youth and the middle-class electorate across the southeast. His recent decision to join the APC has opened a new chapter—bringing with him not only his formidable political structure but also the credibility and goodwill he commands across political divides.

    In a state where zoning, religious alignment, and public acceptability are decisive factors, Ozigbo scores highest among all APC aspirants. According to a confidential evaluation document by the APC, he ranks first, scoring 74% in key metrics including zoning, religious support, and public popularity—outperforming the incumbent governor, Charles Soludo, in recent grassroots polls.

    Ozigbo is not a transactional politician. He is a bridge-builder. His campaign is not about party supremacy—it is about people-centred leadership. He has built relationships across PDP, Labour Party, APGA, and civil society. His defection to APC has created a rallying point that could unify previously fragmented political interests in Anambra. If APC is serious about delivering a historic victory in the South East, it must embrace this unifier.

    Beyond numbers and strategy, Ozigbo is a leader of ideas. His vision for Anambra is well-documented—a clear economic plan anchored on digital economy, youth empowerment, security, and infrastructure. His investments in young people speak volumes: through the VCO Foundation, he has committed ₦400 million in partnership with Decagon Institute to sponsor 100 Anambra youths in software engineering, providing a pathway out of unemployment and poverty.

    Critically, Ozigbo possesses something his rivals lack—an expansive grassroots movement and the ability to transcend party lines. In the 2021 election, he outperformed APC’s own candidate. Today, he has brought to the APC not only his capacity but also the goodwill of thousands who believe in his brand of leadership.

    His campaign is self-funded, removing the burden of financial dependency from the party. His cosmopolitan corporate background, vast diaspora network, and clean political record set him apart in a field often riddled with godfatherism and mediocrity.

    As APC looks towards November, the party must decide whether it wants a candidate who can win the primary—or a candidate who can win the election. The difference matters.

    The people of Anambra are yearning for a new kind of leadership—one that transcends slogans and symbols, and delivers results. Valentine Ozigbo embodies that aspiration. For APC, he is not only the safest bet; he is the smartest one.

    Mr. President, Aswaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu believes in harvest of talents, not about lobbying or money. Therefore, now is the time for our party to help the President harvest one of the talents so that the APC can avert the crisis as it is being experienced in the PDP presently.

    The road to Anambra’s redemption begins with the right choice on April 5. The APC has a rare chance to make history. That chance is Valentine Ozigbo.

    Dr Onoh was the 2023 President Bola Tinubu’s campaign spokesman in the South East

  • Why I dumped Labour Party for APC, Peter Obi’s ally Valentine Ozigbo

    Why I dumped Labour Party for APC, Peter Obi’s ally Valentine Ozigbo

    A former governorship aspirant of the Labour Party (LP) in Anambra, Valentine Ozigbo, has explained why he officially dumped the Labour Party (LP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Ozigbo, formally registered with the APC at his ward in Amesi, Aguata Local Government Area.

    He said his decision was driven by his belief in progressive governance and the need to align with forward-thinking leaders.

    Ozigbo was a close ally of the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections, Peter Obi, and had previously contested the 2021 Anambra governorship election under the Peoples Democratic Party but lost to the eventual winner, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance.

    Read Also: I will no longer look for trouble – Portable 

    In a statement, The Valentine Ozigbo Campaign Organisation said: “During his interactions with party leaders, Ozigbo outlined his grand vision for a brighter and better Anambra State, emphasizing his unwavering commitment to transformational leadership, economic development, and people-centered governance,” the organization added.

    “He also pledged to contribute significantly to the growth and success of the APC in the state.

    “Mr Ozigbo’s decision to join the APC is driven by his deep-rooted belief in progressive governance, his desire to work alongside forward-thinking leaders, and his determination to champion policies that will uplift the people of Anambra and Nigeria at large,” it said.

    Speaking on his next steps, Ozigbo stated that he would issue a formal statement after meeting with the national leadership of the APC in the coming days.

  • Vote wisely in 2025, Ozigbo tells Anambra electorate

    Vote wisely in 2025, Ozigbo tells Anambra electorate

    A governorship hopeful of the Labour Party (LP) for the 2025 election in Anambra State, Valentine Ozigbo, has advised people of the state not to vote in the wrong candidate in next year’s governorship election.

    He said they should hold themselves accountable if they make the mistake of voting in wrong governor for a second time.

    Addressing top dignitaries from across parties and religious divides, as a guest of Osisioma Foundation in Umunya, Ozigbo said he had all it takes to be the next governor and make the people proud and happy.

    Describing himself as a child of grace from a humble and disciplined background, the business mogul said his involvement in politics was driven by his passion to redeem the state and restore it to its former glory.

    He regretted the state’s current rating as the worst in security in the Southeast, insisting that only the right person could steer the ship of the state to the right course with support from well-meaning people.

    He said: “It’s unfortunate that those things that made the state tick are now used to ridicule it, despite producing such eminent figures as Nnamdi Azikiwe, Chukwuemeka Ojukwu and Chinua Achebe.

    “Anambra needs someone to restore it to its past glory in order to shine again and I have the capacity to turn around the state’s fortunes for good with my experience in the financial and business sectors.

    “Through sector approach, cluster approach and superb partnerships, good governance that can fully drive vital sectors like education, health, poverty eradication and security is achievable.

    Read Also: Tinubu, Wike, commended for improving infrastructure

    “These are the basic things needed to be done to put Anambra on the map but regretfully, the state has become unlivable due to high crime rate and becoming the worst in the entire Southeast.

    “The development of Anambra State is beyond politics.

    “All hands must be on deck to make that happen and this is why we must collectively ensure that the right person is produced to harness the state’s resources.”

    Founder of Osisioma Foundation, Dr Chike Obidigbo, expressed disappointment over what he termed Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s failure to deliver on his campaign promises of making Anambra Dubai of Africa.

    Obidigbo, an industrialist and erstwhile ardent supporter of Soludo, said the governor failed the people who took him by his words.

    “I’m not ashamed to say I’m a staunch supporter of Soludo because he promised to turn Anambra to Dubai of Africa. But he’s disappointed us.”

    Obidigbo said his foundation was not endorsing any candidate but would only throw its weight behind whoever has the right agenda for the betterment of the state.

    “We’re not endorsing any candidates because we’re not a political party.

    “We’re here to listen to what he has to say so we can avert the mistakes of the past,” he added.