Senator Victor Umeh: I Will Support Labour Party in Anambra Election Only If Candidate Is Viable
LAGOS – Senator Victor Umeh, who represents Anambra Central in the Senate under the Labour Party (LP), has stated that his support for the party’s candidate in the upcoming November 8 Anambra State governorship election will depend on the viability of the chosen candidate.
Speaking on Arise TV on Tuesday, Umeh emphasized that he would not back a candidate who, in his assessment, lacks the capacity to win the election.
“My support for the Labour Party will depend on who emerges as the candidate. If you call me to be part of something that is not viable, I won’t be part of it. A candidate’s quality determines their viability. I know all the aspirants, and there is no such thing as a universally popular person,” he said.
When asked if he still stood with the Labour Party ahead of the election, Umeh reiterated, “It depends on who the party fields. Let me be clear—I will not be forced into supporting a candidate who, in my view, cannot win the election. We need to win first to be in office. I know who has the capacity to win. I understand the relative strengths of all aspirants because I helped shape the political structure of Anambra State. I have been involved in every election, and I know the key influencers in determining who becomes governor. It’s not just about saying, ‘Here I am, send me.’”
Speaking further, Umeh emphasized that his primary concern is the development of Anambra, not just party loyalty.
“At my status now, I prioritize the welfare of my state over partisanship. I want to see progressive development in Anambra. We have abundant human resources—capable individuals excelling in commerce and various fields. Our state should be governed effectively. For the past 25 years, I have always aligned with the progressive side, standing against powerful forces. That’s how I became APGA chairman and led the party to win governorship elections back-to-back with Peter Obi and later Willie Obiano. When my tenure ended, I stayed behind to help push Soludo into office because I believed he was the best candidate at the time,” Umeh explained.
He further noted that his support is always based on competence, rather than blind political allegiance.
“My support goes to the person I believe will serve the people well. Leaders are human and can make mistakes, but my focus is on what is best for Anambra,” he added.
Addressing his past support for Governor Charles Soludo, Umeh justified it by pointing to improvements in security under his administration.
“You mentioned that I supported Soludo recently. Yes, and it was because of security. Our state was almost lost—people were being killed, and many were fleeing. But Soludo introduced a new security architecture, and now, criminals are being rounded up daily. That is what the people have been yearning for,” Umeh concluded.