In a well-documented incident, certain goons known as operatives of the Anambra State Vigilante Service, generally known as Udo Ga Achi, arrested eighteen journalists during the Senatorial and State Assembly elections held in the state on August 16, 2025.
The journalists were touring electoral Wards and communities of the 7 Councils that made up the Anambra South senatorial zone where the by-elections were held on Saturday.
The journalists were arrested and detained at gunpoint by Udo Ga Achi operatives.
The journalists had gone to Nnewi, in Nnewi North, as well as Ukpor, Osumenyi, Ezinifite, Amichi and other communities in Nnewi South LGA of the State to monitor proceedings in the elections.
It was learnt that they were rushing after the APC governorship flag bearer, Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu, for his remarks on the day’s process after covering the day’s proceedings.
At Eke Orsumenyi their vehicle was forcefully stopped by the local vigilantes.
They were, thereafter, detained for more than three hours, purportedly on the orders of the State’s Deputy Governor, Dr. Onyekachukwu Gilbert Ibezim, according to the security operatives.
Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) was later informed that the journalists were detained to stop them from reporting the widespread fraud going on during the election.
Read the full story below:
Anambra Govt Arrests, Beats Up 18 Journalists Monitoring Senatorial Bye-Election
The real results of the Senatorial and State Assembly elections held over the weekend for Orsumenyi Ward 2 and other places have gradually started surfacing in the open for all to see.
According to available results, Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu, popularly known as Ikukuoma, the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate for the coming November 8, 2025, poll won convincingly in virtually all polling booths.
APC and Ukachukwu noted that the victory “was despite all the Anambra State government’s shenanigans to make the world believe that the people’s Prince lost in his Ward.
“Unfortunately, not minding the invasion of the polling unit and rewriting of results at Orsumenyi Ward 1 by a platoon of armed thugs commanded by the State’s Deputy Governor, Dr Onyekachukwu Gilbert Ibezim.
“Subsequently, fierce efforts to manipulate and change that of Orsumenyi Ward 2 at the Local Government collation centre, Ukpor which was openly resisted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and party officials and agents, it remained a herculean task.
“This stoic posture of these officials and agents made it impossible for anyone from anywhere to defeat the people’s Prince Ikukuoma Ndigbo in his Ward -Orsumenyi Ward 2.
“His sweeping victory here, which has literally become traditional clearly stared the ruling APGA in the face when, according to them they came to overwhelm Orsumenyi people, but the Orsumenyi youths resisted every of their moves vehemently.
“It’s a very well-known aspect of our electoral jurisprudence that it’s an offence for anyone, no matter how highly placed to veer off his community into another person’s community on an election day sauntering like a dictatorial emperor of the medieval era from polling unit to another molesting and intimidating the natives with his very ill-mannered armed thugs as did the Anambra State Deputy Governor, Dr Ibezim in Orsumenyi on August 16,2025.
“His band of foul-mouthed armed thugs readily shoot indiscriminately while snatching ballot boxes as their emperor gives the orders.”
Beside the invasion of Ukachukwu’s domain in Orsumenyi, several other acts of impunity were recorded across the state on the eve of the election.
Reacting during a World Press Conference at APC headquarters in Awka addressed by Prince Ukachukwu and the APC State chairman, Chief Basil Ejidike, speaking about Udo ga Achi’s antics, they wondered “what was on the mind of Gov Charles Soludo when he chose to order the invasion of Orsumenyi, the country home of Ukachukwu (Ikukuoma) on Aug 16,2025.
“This is, to say the least, is clearly the height of political provocation.”
“The two key politicians disclosed that their discreet investigations revealed that reason why 18 journalists were harassed, beaten up and detained under gunpoint was to prevent them from reporting to the world the massive fraud they saw.
“This included assault and arrest of perceived vocal opposition party members
“But in all these Ikukuoma maintained cool composure and persevered for his people.
“One therefore wonders what was Governor Soludo’s scores in his Isuofia community, Aguata Council in the last general election, and how such figures were generated.
“While we urge our supporters to remain calm, we sincerely urge the INEC and the relevant security agencies, as well as the Presidency to be respectfully mindful of this strange Soludo’s brand of politics as it’s clearly an evil that’s not good for/to anyone now or in future,” the statement emphasized.
Watch a LIVE coverage of the press conference in full below (jump to 33rd minute):
See some of the results below:
By Chuks Collins, Awka