The governorship candidate of the Young Progressives Party in the November 8, 2025 Anambra election, Paul Chukwuma, and his running mate, Uzu Okagbue, have formally kicked off their campaign, pledging to end bad governance and restore positive change in the state.
The exercise, tagged, ‘Joy is coming’, began with a road show that kicked off at Amawbia Bridge, near Awka, and ended at Washington Grammar School, Onitsha, on Saturday, with a large turnout of party members and supporters, including other fans such as tricycle operators and others singing the theme song, ‘joy is coming’, across major streets and roads.
Also in attendance at the roadshow was the party’s candidate for the Onitsha North 1 constituency by-election slated for August 16, Njideka Ndiwe.
According to the party, the roadshow was used to express its readiness for the upcoming governorship election and to tell the people that its candidates are fully prepared to take over governance and restore security, transparency and economic vibrancy in the state.
Addressing party supporters and dignitaries in attendance, including various ward chairmen in Onitsha, Chukwuma declared that the November 8 poll would be a decisive moment for the state, insisting that the present government had failed on all fronts.
Chukwuma also urged the people to vote for the YPP candidate in the state Assembly by-election on August 16, saying the YPP, as a grassroots party, will bring development on all fronts. He said, “We have come to Onitsha North today with mixed feelings because today reminds us of the implications a place where the government does not care about the people.
“If there is a good government in Anambra, we won’t be talking about by-election for the Onitsha North 1 constituency.
“We are talking about a by-election because a fine gentleman, Justice Azuka, that was a member representing Onitsha North 1, was kidnapped and killed. “There have been so many killings in Anambra. I am here with tears in my eyes, if a member of the state assembly could be kidnapped and killed, then who is safe in the state?
“Anambra has descended to the stage where there is no sacredness of life, and that is why we are here to tell the people of Anambra that joy is coming.
“After the state assembly election on August 16, comes the governorship on November 8. It is your vote that you will use to remove bad governance from the state.
“Anambra, as it is, we are not happy. YPP is a grassroots party. Our presence in Onitsha reminds us of the implications of bad governance in Anambra State, where the government does not show concern about the people.”
He noted that since the late Justice Azuka hailed from Ogbozalla, Onitsha, it is imperative that the same Ogbozalla person would replace him and complete all the projects he would have done.
“Whatever you would have done for late Azuka, please do it to Princess Njideka, who is a YPP candidate for the State Assembly by-election. Vote for his sister so that she would do what Azuka would have done for you people.
“Please, come out en masse and vote for YPP, a grassroots party that carries everybody along,” he added.
Earlier in his remarks, the running mate, Okagbue, said, “We are waiting for the inauguration. We are waiting for November 8, 2025. They said they don’t have contenders; that is not true, they are contending with us and the die is cast.
“It is votes that will count and it’s not by rhetoric, no one can intimidate us by rhetoric. We are contesting for the election because the state needs help, it is good for someone who understands governance to be in power.
“Anambra cannot continue to be like this where people now live in fear. Paul Chukwuma will bring back joy to Anambra. He will restore security. The bible says, ‘when a good man is in power, the people rejoice’.”
In their separate comments, the YPP state chairman, Cletus Obi, and House of Assembly candidate, Njideka Ndiwe appealed to the Onitsha North 1 to sincerely support YPP and deliver the party in the state Assembly by-election and the governorship election.
