The Director-General of the South East Governorship Forum and deputy governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2025 Anambra governorship election, Senator Uche Ekwunife, has endorsed the joint ticket of President Tinubu and Vice-President Kashim Shettima for a second term, dismissing growing speculations over a possible replacement of Shettima amid calls for religious balancing on the APC presidential ticket.
Senator Ekwunife made the remarks on Saturday in Awka, the Anambra State capital, during an APC stakeholders’ meeting convened to review progress and strategise on the party’s ongoing electronic membership registration exercise.
According to Ekwunife, the Tinubu administration’s economic reforms are beginning to yield positive results. She urged Nigerians to support the government in delivering its “Renewed Hope” agenda.
“Nigeria is in safe hands with President Bola Tinubu. He remains the most formidable candidate for 2027. His policies are yielding results, and all we need to do is to support him and pray for our leaders to succeed,” she said.
Drawing from her experience as a former senator, Ekwunife expressed confidence in the leadership of the current administration, noting that she had worked closely with both the First Lady Oluremi Tinubu and Vice-President Shettima during her time in the National Assembly.
On party mobilisation, Ekwunife disclosed that the APC in Anambra State is targeting the registration of over 336,000 new members across the state’s wards as part of efforts to strengthen its grassroots base ahead of the 2027 presidential, National Assembly and state elections.
She explained that the e-registration exercise is designed to identify loyal and committed party members and empower them politically, stressing that ward chairmen play a critical role as custodians of the party at the grassroots.
“Winning elections is not just about money; it is about institutional support. Elections are won from the wards, and despite structural and institutional challenges, the APC has firmly taken root in Anambra State,” she said.
Ekwunife acknowledged that the party did not receive significant federal backing during the last governorship election but maintained that it still recorded notable progress under the circumstances. She assured party faithful that past setbacks would not be repeated.
“We may not have received the expected federal support, but we still performed creditably. Any party chairman who is not serious about the e-registration process risks isolating himself. APC in Anambra is now resilient and prepared for future contests,” she added.
In his remarks, the Anambra State Chairman of the APC, Chief Basil Ejidike, described politics as a game of numbers, emphasising that a strong membership base is essential for electoral success.
Ejidike said the stakeholders’ meeting was convened to assess participation in the e-registration exercise and ensure transparency and seriousness at all levels. He revealed that the party has adopted new strategies aimed at improving its electoral fortunes beginning from the next election cycle.
To encourage grassroots mobilisation, Ejidike announced incentives for the most active local government areas, with prizes of ₦500,000 for first place, ₦300,000 for second, and ₦150,000 for third.
“As we approach another election cycle, without the right numbers we will not be reckoned with nationally. Ward chairmen and party leaders must take this exercise seriously,” he said.