Deputy governorship candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Uche Ekwunife has tendered an apology to the Governor of Anambra State, Prof Chukwuma Soludo and his wife, Nonye.
Ekwunife, NATIONAL POST recalls, had accused Soludo wife of flirting with late Anambra governor, Chinwoke Mbadinuju, a development that made Soludo wife challenge her for a DNA test abroad.
Mrs Ekwunife alleged that Mrs Soludo had an affair with Mr Mbadinuju during his time as governor before suggesting that her children might not have been fathered by her husband.
But Soludo’s wife, who said she got married as a virgin and never slept with another man, threw a challenge at Ekwunife.
Mrs Soludo also challenged Mrs Ekwunife to agree for both of them to take an oath of fidelity and chastity before the Catholic Church’s Blessed Sacrament.
She said, “Since she claims to be a converted Catholic, I challenge her and both of us to swear an oath of fidelity and chastity at any cathedral in front of the Blessed Sacrament.
“I will swear with my children that in my 55 years on earth, I have known only one man—Chukwuma Soludo,” she said.
“On your part, you should also swear with your children or your political ambitions that since you got married, you have never cheated on your husband. Let us do this between now and mid October 2025.”
Mrs Soludo also proposed DNA tests for both her family and Mrs Ekwunife’s family, to be conducted in three London hospitals, which she opted to fund.
“If after the tests it is confirmed that your husband is the father of all your children, I will congratulate you with a cash award.
“I can confirm that my family is ready for this test any moment of your choice, preferably between now and the end of October/November 2025,” she said.
After the challenge, Senator Ekwunife has now apologized.
In a press release signed on his behalf by her Special Adviser, Media & Publicity, Mr Tony Ezike apologized to Soludo and his wife.
She also urged the public to disregard a trending story that suggested she had also said that a former PDP godfather, Chief Chris Uba fathered some of the governor's children. She said the news did not emanate from her or her supporters and urged members of the public to discard it.
The release stated: "The attention of Sen. Uche Ekwunife, the Anambra All Progressives Congress (APC) Deputy Governorship Candidate, has been drawn to an article falsely attributed to her camp, alleging that Mrs. Nonye Soludo, the wife of the Anambra State Governor, had children for Chief Chris Uba.
"Sen. Uche Ekwunife categorically states that although she has been maligned, defamed, and disparaged by the Governor's media team, the said publication did not emanate from her or her camp.
"She further wishes to apologize to the Governor, his wife, and the general public who may have been affected by the altercations of the past few days.
"Sen. Ekwunife calls on her supporters to remain focused and avoid any media writing that may suggest an altercation with the First Family or any other person as she continues with her campaigns."
Meanwhile, the National Vice Chairman of All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, South East zone, Augustine Ehiemere has condemned the earlier statements credited to Ekwunife, where she reportedly claimed that Governor Charles Soludo has mouth and body odour.
In a statement he made available to Journalists in Abia State on Tuesday, Ehiemere advised Ekwunife to tender an apology for allegedly insulting Governor Charles Soludo and Anambra people.
The APGA National Vice Chairman who described the allegations as baseless blackmail to tarnish the image of the Governor, his wife and entire family, said it was surprising to hear a deputy governorship candidate releasing such words without decorum.
"Most outrageous is her baseless claim that Governor Soludo suffers from mouth and body odour.
"The APGA Southeast Zone, led by Rev. Augustine Ehiemere, demands to know how Ekwunife could have come into such intimate proximity to the Governor to make such a vile and unfounded accusation,” he said.
