…..Four Catholic Candidates in Guber Race
Citypost News Desk
Report by Veteran Journalist Okey Maduforo, Awka
The November 8th gubernatorial election in Anambra State appears to be taking a religious turn following the revelation that four major candidates vying for the position are Roman Catholics; a development that seems to be unsettling the political landscape.
This comes as the Labour Party (LP) and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) trade words over an alleged cold war between Governor Charles Soludo and the two dominant Christian denominations in the state; the Anglican and Catholic Churches.
Findings indicate that Governor Charles Soludo is a Roman Catholic, as are Sir Paul Chukwuma of the Young Progressive Party (YPP), Chief George Moghalu of the Labour Party, and Mr. Paul Nwosu of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
With this development, the Church is reportedly considering which of its faithful to support; a situation that has sparked debates over potential endorsements and their possible influence on the outcome of the election.
However, the Director General of the George Moghalu Campaign Council under the Labour Party, Arch. Okey Chukwuogo, has dismissed the possibility of Soludo receiving backing from either the Catholic or Anglican Church, arguing that the governor’s relationship with the clergy “leaves much to be desired.”
“I am not worried about religious politics in Anambra State, and I don’t want to go into when it started,” Chukwuogo said.
“But the truth remains that Roman Catholics tend to support their members contesting for the governorship, while Anglicans also show preference for their own. Now, I don’t know of any Anglican running, but there are four Roman Catholic candidates, George Moghalu, Prof. Charles Soludo, Sir Paul Chukwuma, and John Nwosu. Interestingly, all of them have Anglican running mates.”
He added:
“Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu, as far as I know, is an Evangelist and has his own church. He is neither a Roman Catholic nor an Anglican, though when his first wife died, her burial was presided over by an Anglican bishop. His running mate is an Anglican, married to a Roman Catholic. That’s the situation among the five candidates.”
Chukwuogo further alleged that Soludo’s strained relationship extends beyond the church to traditional institutions in the state.
“Prof. Charles Soludo is not in the good books of any church, nor is he loved by traditionalists. When you consider how his agents use force and even firearms to collect revenue, you’ll understand what I mean,” he said.
“The churches are unhappy with his burial laws. He claimed he didn’t make the law but inherited it from his predecessor, yet such laws should have passed through the churches for input. There are aspects that people naturally find objectionable.”
He noted that among the Catholic candidates, the faithful would likely rally around one of their own, depending on the guidance of the clergy.
In response, Chief Ernest Ezeajughi, Chief of Staff to Governor Soludo, dismissed Chukwuogo’s claims as baseless and misleading, insisting that the governor enjoys a cordial relationship with all churches in the state.
“When people descend so low as to link religion with governance in Anambra State, it amazes me,” Ezeajughi said.
“Chukwuogo knows that the originator of religious politics is very close to him — that was a poisoned chalice crafted by his co-travelers. Governor Soludo governs for all, not for any denomination or traditional group. Every project executed under his administration is for the benefit of the entire people of Anambra State.”
Ezeajughi described attempts to introduce religious sentiments into the election as “pedestrian,” stressing that APGA remains focused on taking the state to greater socioeconomic heights.
“We’ve not heard any church leader complain of issues with the governor. The Labour Party is simply trying to stir the waters to gain relevance,” he added.
Speaking on the burial laws, Ezeajughi explained that the regulation was designed to curb extravagant spending on funerals.
“The essence of the law is to prevent people from selling properties or borrowing heavily just to bury their loved ones, especially when such expenses were never made while the person was alive,” he noted.
Ezeajughi therefore urged Anambra voters to disregard what he called “spurious allegations” and continue to support Governor Soludo’s administration.
