Ngige Denies Endorsing APC’s Anambra Governorship Candidate, Says He’s on Political Sabbatical

Former Minister of Labour and Productivity, Senator Chris Ngige, has distanced himself from the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in the upcoming Anambra election, Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu, over the unauthorized use of his image in campaign materials.

In a statement issued on Tuesday by his Special Assistant on Media Affairs, Hyggy Obialo, Ngige expressed displeasure at finding his photograph displayed alongside Ukachukwu and his running mate, Senator Uche Ekwunife, in campaign posters.

He described the move as misleading and unauthorized.

Obialo clarified that Ngige, a former Anambra governor and two-term minister, is currently on a “sabbatical” from active politics after 25 years of public service.

He urged the APC candidate and his team to respect Ngige’s decision to remain non-partisan at this time.

The statement read: “Our attention has been drawn to an online poster featuring our principal alongside the APC governorship candidate and his deputy. We categorically state that neither his consent nor approval was obtained before this publication.”

It further emphasized: “Senator Ngige is currently on a break from partisan politics and deserves his well-earned rest. We advise those involved to respect his publicly stated position.”

Ngige served as Anambra governor (2003–2006), senator (2011–2015), and labour minister (2015–2023). His disassociation from Ukachukwu’s campaign underscores his neutrality in the forthcoming November 8, 2025, governorship election.

About The Author

Dele Fashomi

Dele Fashomi, seasoned journalist and communication teacher, is a holder of Master of Arts degree in Communication and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan in 1992/93.

Earlier, he had bagged a Bachelor degree from the same university in 1984, after which he proceeded to the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos, in 1990, for a postgraduate diploma in Journalism.

He had done many courses in communication, including the EU-BBC Editing Course in 2002.

Mr. Fashomi combines effectively the practice, research and teaching of communication. And to date, he has published two academic works in communication: Issues in Communication Technology and Policy (2010) and Economic and Social Issues in Advertising and PR (2013).

He had his first break in the Nigerian media in Concord Newspapers in 1990 and today, he has over two and half decades experience earned in several newspapers.

He has been part of many start-ups, such as The Republic (1987), The Comet (1999), The Anchor 2001 – 2002; Sun Newspapers (2003); Westerner newsmagazine (2005 – 2010) as Editor; National Life (2011) as Sunday Editor, and Newswatch Newspapers (2012- 2016) as Daily Editor.

Dele Fashomi is now the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Newstide247.com newspaper online, which he started in July 2015. He is also into biography writing, with many books in his trail, some of which he wrote alone and one he co- authored with his mentor, Mr Dare Babarinsa, entitled: Olabiyi Durojaiye – DARE TO BE DiFFERENT. He also guided and collaborated with Pa Olatunji Odusanya in writing his autobiography – AGAINST ALL ODDS. There are many other books in the works under his pen.

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