Former Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, has cautioned the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Anambra State against using his name to gain political support.
In a statement issued by his Special Assistant on Media, Hyggy Obialo, Ngige, a former governor of the state, said he has taken a sabbatical from politics and does not wish to be linked to any candidate.
The statement, endorsed by Ngige, disclaimed a recent poster that displayed his image alongside those of the APC governorship candidate, Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu, and his running mate, Senator Uche Ekwunife.
“We want to use this medium to inform the general public that neither the consent nor approval of our principal was sought and or obtained, respectively, before the said publication was disseminated to the general public.
“Our attention has been drawn to the online poster in circulation with the photograph of our principal, His Excellency, Sen. Dr Chris Nwabueze Ngige, MD, OON, CON, Onwa-na-etiliora, featuring together with the Anambra State APC Governorship candidate, Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu and his deputy, Sen. Uche Ekwunife.
“We therefore advise the perpetrators to respect the wishes of our principal, who has indicated in many fora that he is out of partisan politics for now.
“We further wish to inform the general public that H.E. Sen. Dr Chris Nwabueze Ngige is on sabbatical from active partisan politics for now as he is taking his well-deserved rest after 25 years of active partisan politics and public service.”
Ngige, who served as Governor of Anambra State from 2003 to 2006, represented Anambra Central Senatorial District in the 7th Senate from 2011 to 2015 and was Minister of Labour and Employment from 2015 to 2023. He is regarded as one of the most accomplished politicians in Anambra State and a respected elder statesman.
