Former Anambra State Governor, Senator Chris Ngige, has alleged that his 2006 ouster from office was a direct consequence of his refusal to appoint political heavyweight Chris Uba as his deputy. Ngige made this revelation in a recent interview, offering new insights into the political battles that defined his administration.
Ngige, who governed Anambra from 2003 until his controversial removal, stated that powerful political figures pressured him to make Uba his deputy, but he resisted to preserve his administration’s independence. “My refusal to appoint Chris Uba as my deputy was the reason I was removed as governor,” he asserted, framing the decision as a key factor in his eventual exit.
His tenure was marked by instability, including a widely publicized 2003 abduction linked to political godfathers. His defiance of demands from influential figures like Uba reportedly intensified political friction in the state.
In 2006, a court invalidated Ngige’s election, declaring Peter Obi of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) the true winner of the 2003 poll. However, Ngige’s latest claim suggests that backroom political dealings, beyond legal technicalities, played a role in his removal.
Efforts to get a response from Chris Uba’s camp were unsuccessful. Political observers in Anambra say the allegation, if verified, underscores the dominance of godfather politics in Nigeria’s governance at the time.
Now a senator and former Minister of Labour and Employment, Ngige called for a reevaluation of leadership priorities. “That period teaches us that governance should be about the people, not the interests of a select few,” he remarked.
With Anambra’s next governorship election approaching, Ngige’s statement has revived debates about the influence of political powerbrokers in the state’s affairs. The claim is expected to fuel further discourse on power dynamics and accountability in Nigerian politics.
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