Chris Ngige warns APC Anambra candidate Nicholas Ukachukwu against using his image in campaign posters, reiterates he’s on sabbatical from politics
Chris Ngige, former Minister of Labour and Productivity, has distanced himself from the campaign activities of All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Anambra State, Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu, warning the public against being misled by campaign posters bearing his image.
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Ngige, who served as governor of Anambra State and a two-time minister, expressed dismay over the unauthorized use of his photograph alongside Ukachukwu and his running mate, Senator Uche Ekwunife, in campaign materials circulating online.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by his Special Assistant on Media Affairs, Hyggy Obialo, Ngige made it clear he is currently on a sabbatical from active partisan politics, and has not endorsed any candidate for the upcoming November 8, 2025, governorship election in the state.
“Our attention has been drawn to the online poster in circulation with the photograph of our principal, His Excellency, Senator Chris Nwabueze Ngige, featured together with the Anambra APC governorship candidate, Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu, and his deputy, Senator Uche Ekwunife,” the statement read.
“We want to use this medium to inform the general public that neither the consent nor approval of our principal was sought or obtained before the said publication was disseminated.”
Ngige, fondly called “Onwa-na-etiliora”, has been a prominent figure in Nigerian politics for over two decades.
He served as Anambra governor from 2003 to 2006, later represented Anambra Central in the Senate, and was Minister of Labour and Employment from 2015 to 2023.
His media aide emphasized that Ngige is taking a well-deserved rest from public political engagement after 25 years of active service, and has repeatedly stated he is not participating in partisan politics at this time.
“We, therefore, advise the perpetrators to respect the wishes of our principal,” Obialo stressed.
The warning from Ngige’s camp comes amid growing concerns over unauthorized political endorsements in Nigeria, where images and names of prominent figures are often used without consent to imply support or legitimacy.
Observers say Ngige’s public disavowal sends a clear message to political actors in Anambra and beyond: legitimate support must be sought and confirmed, not assumed or manipulated.
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As campaigns heat up ahead of the 2025 Anambra governorship election, this statement from Ngige draws a clear line between personal reputation and party politics — a stance many consider both principled and necessary in a time of blurred political allegiances.
