By Chikaodi Chukwuleta
The All Progressives Congress (APC) Anambra State Governorship Candidate for the November 8, 2025 Election, Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu has disclosed that the Anambra Vigilante Service (AVG), now known as Agụnaechemba was established by the state government to intimidate political opponents and to rig elections.
Ukachukwu, who spoke through his Chief of Staff, Dr Kingsley Ezekwere, at a stakeholders meeting of APC which he hosted, stated that the motive for establishing the vigilante outfit became obvious during the August 16, 2025 Bye-elections for Anambra South Senatorial District and Onitsha North 1 State Constituency of the State House of Assembly.
According to him, “the social media are awash with video clips of heavily armed militia dangerously wielding weapons, including AK-47, pump action, Barrera and axes to instil fear and intimidate opponents and voters during the elections.”
He maintained that the Agunechemba militia were known to have cordoned off the residential area of the APC Senatorial Candidate, Engr. Azuka Okwuosa, and prevented him from leaving his house to exercise his franchise, adding that the presence of hundreds of the militia men intimidated the electorates and scared them away from the polls, resulting to poor voter turn out.
He further explained that there were undue financial inducements of the electorates.
Prince Ukachukwu, who said that the purpose of the Stakeholders Meeting was to get first hand information of what transpired during the bye-elections and review strategies to put the house in order, assured that if elected, the APC would rejig the Anambra Vigilante Service ((AVG)) and ensure it works harmoniously with the conventional security to strengthen community policing across the state.
He said that the party was well informed and prepared to use all lawful means to weather the storm to succeed, adding that “no other party can stop APC given the calibre of stakeholders”.
