Barely 10 days after he emerged as the All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial standard bearer for the November 8 gubernatorial poll in Anambra State, Prince Nicholas Chukwujekwu Ukachukwu has been given a rigid condition to receive the support of the Catholic Church in the state.

Sources confided in The Guardian that the basic conditions set before the APC guber candidate include the selection of a deputy from the Catholic fold, but also that 60 per cent of his cabinet must be manned by Catholics.

The Guardian learned that already, the race for Ukachukwu’s running mate has been narrowed down between two former female Senators, Dr. Uche Lilian Ekwunife and Dr. Margery Okadigbo, who hail from the Central and North Senatorial Districts of the state, respectively.

Although both female politicians are Catholics, the factor of zoning is said to be impacting their chances, because while the more politically active Ekwunife hails from the populous Anambra Central District, Mrs. Okadigbo is from Anambra North, which district has just served out eight years of governorship through Chief Willie Obiano.

Also, the fact of her maiden community, Igboukwu in Aguata Local Government Area, and influence as the current Director General of South East Governors’ Forum are ticking in Ekwunife’s favour as her candidacy is expected to help slice the votes in OAU (Old Aguata Union) from where the incumbent Professor Chukwuma Soludo hails.

Sources disclosed that some influential bigwigs at APC national headquarters are putting words across in favour of the wife of the late President of the Senate, Chuba Okadigbo, to pair up with Prince Ukachukwu.

Those pushing for the Onitsha-born lawyer are said to be arguing that while Ekwunife was still in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Margery, who served briefly as pioneer Managing Director of Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), helped to organise a successful presidential campaign rally for President Bola Tinubu in Awka.

However, the 2003 governorship contender of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Dr. Chike Obidigbo, who hails from Anambra North Senatorial District, said that between the two female politicians, “I think Iyom (Ekwunife) parades more clout. She has a tremendous grassroots following and possesses street credibility, while Margery tends towards English-style elitist politics.”

On the conditionality given to the APC governorship by the Catholic Church as consideration for support, Obidigbo said under normal circumstances, Ukachukwu, who is of Pentecostal persuasion, should invariably use a catholic as deputy.

“In 2003, when I ran for governorship, I made it clear that my running mate must be a woman and a Catholic. The religious balance is necessary, and I believe the Catholic Church is fair in its demand,” he noted.

The APC governorship candidate, Ukachukwu, who is being seen as the main challenger to incumbent Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo of APGA, paid courtesy calls on the Catholic Arch Bishop of Onitsha Arch Diocese, Dr. Valerian Okeke and the presiding priest of Adoration Ministry, Rev. Father Emmanuel Obimma (Ebubemuonso), where he solicited the support of the Church for his gubernatorial chase.

The fiery Catholic priest, Rev. Fr. Obinma (Ebubemonso), while praying for the APC flag bearer, declared that “in time of challenge, God also provides a way out so that the people could have a reprieve.

When contacted, the APC State Assistant Secretary, Engr. Sam Osita Oraegbunam disclosed that while the ultimate choice of who should be the governorship running mate lies with the standard bearer, the party was favourably disposed to the demand that Prince Ukachukwu’s deputy should be a Catholic.

Meanwhile, as at the time of filing of this report, Senators Ekwunife and Okadigbo have been enlisted in the reconciliation panel set up by the national leadership of APC, to address post-primary election recriminations in the party, as well as pacifying aggrieved former aspirants.