Justice Professor Peter Umeadi, former Chief Judge of Anambra State and the 2023 presidential candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), has reaffirmed his position as the party’s flagbearer heading into the 2027 general elections.
Speaking during the opening remarks of the Maiden International Conference hosted by the Department of Political Science at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Umeadi emphasized continuity in his political ambition.
“I remain the presidential candidate of APGA until the 2027 presidential election. That is what it is,” he declared.
Umeadi also used the platform to reflect on the enduring influence of Nigeria’s first President, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, lauding him as a visionary political thinker whose ideas resonated far beyond Nigeria’s borders.
“When it comes to learning, application, maneuvering, scheming, politicking, and winning, you talk about Zik of Africa,” Umeadi said, noting that influential African leaders such as Julius Nyerere, Jomo Kenyatta, Nelson Mandela, Kenneth Kaunda, and Kwame Nkrumah were shaped by Zik’s ideology.
He lamented Africa’s enduring struggle with poverty and hunger, citing Nyerere’s poignant observation: “The tragedy of Africa is that even at this age, children still go to bed hungry.”
Umeadi called on academia, particularly political science departments, to lead the charge in reclaiming African political thought and values rooted in social justice, unity, and development.
Governance in Crisis: A Call for Reform
Also addressing the conference, Prof. Carol Arinze-Umobi, Acting Vice Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, described the conference theme — “Africa at Crossroads: Confronting Governance, Security, and Development Challenges in the 21st Century” — as timely.
She expressed concern over Africa’s state of governance, pointing to widespread issues including armed conflicts, insurgencies, electoral manipulation, ethnic and religious tensions, and frequent military interventions.
“It is disappointing that decades after independence, most African countries are still mired in underdevelopment and political instability,” she remarked.
The event brought together a diverse mix of political figures, academics, and traditional leaders. Notable attendees included Sir Oseloka Obaze (PDP), Chief George Moghalu (Labour Party), Chief John Nwosu (ADC), along with scholars such as Prof. Emma Ezeani, Prof. Jaja Nwanegbo, Prof. Godwin Mmaduka, and royal dignitary Igwe Johnson Mbanefo.
The gathering served as a platform for renewed engagement with Africa’s governance challenges and a tribute to the enduring vision of Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe — a man hailed as the architect of modern African political consciousness.
