Politics
Moldova’s pro-EU leader in tight run-off as Russia denies meddling

Published
5 months agoon
By
Ekwutos BlogMoldova’s pro-EU leader in tight run-off as Russia denies meddling
Moldovans are going to the polls on Sunday in the second round run-off of a presidential election seen as a choice between a European future or a return to Russian influence.
Pro-European President Maia Sandu faces Alexandr Stoianoglo, a man she fired as chief prosecutor, who has promised to balance foreign policy between the West and Russia and has the backing of the pro-Russian Party of Socialists.
Sandu and Moldova’s authorities have warned that a fugitive oligarch now based in Russia is trying to buy the election for Moscow.
The Kremlin has denied interfering in the vote, much as it did during last weekend’s disputed elections in Georgia, whose president described the vote as a “Russian special operation”.
“We resolutely reject any accusations that we are somehow interfering in this. We are not doing this,” said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.
Sandu won the first round of the vote two weeks ago with 42.4%, well ahead of Alexandr Stoianoglo on 26%, but short of the 50% she needed to win outright. His vote is likely to increase because of the votes of candidates who failed to reach the run-off.
Stoianoglo has told Moldovans he would be an “apolitical president” for everyone, with a goal of security, peace and prosperity, and a “truly European model”.
But commentators and politicians have warned that a Stoianoglu victory could radically change the political landscape in the Danube and Black Sea region, not because he is some kind of “Trojan horse”, but rather because Russia has thrown its weight behind him.

Alexandr Stoianoglo promises Moldovans to save their country from four more years of “abuse and ruin”
© Reuters
Former Moldovan Defence Minister Anatol Salaru said the election would decide whether Moldova would “continue the process of European integration or return to the Russia fold”.
A former Soviet republic flanked by Ukraine and Romania and one of Europe’s poorest countries, Moldova has a population of 2.5 million. It also has a large expat population of 1.2 million, whose votes could prove key to Maia Sandu in the run-off.
Moldova has opened talks on joining the European Union, and on the same day of the first round Moldovans voted by a whisker to back a change to the constitution embracing the commitment to join the EU.
The tiny margin in favour came as a surprise, although Maia Sandu said there was clear evidence of attempts to buy 300,000 votes.
The BBC spoke to one voter who said she and others had sold their votes for up to 1,000 roubles (£8).
Whatever Russia’s role behind the scenes, police said fugitive oligarch Ilan Shor had moved $39m (£30m) over two months from Moscow into Moldovan bank accounts in September and October, benefiting at least 138,000 voters.
Shor denies wrongdoing but did promise cash handouts to people prepared to back his call for a “firm No” to the EU. He faces a lengthy jail sentence in Moldova for money laundering and embezzlement.
Stoianoglo denies links to Ilan Shor but he does have the backing of the opposition pro-Russian Party of Socialists, led by ex-president Igor Dodon.
A populist ex-mayor who came third has refused to back either him or Maia Sandu, criticising both in equal measure.
“Do what you see fit. You must decide on your own,” Renato Usatii told his supporters, blowing the race wide open.
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Politics
Violence, Police Collusion As Alleged Ukachukwu’s Thugs Block APC Accreditation In Awka.

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1 hour agoon
April 5, 2025By
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The All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primary in Anambra State descended into chaos on Saturday morning, as thugs allegedly loyal to aspirant Nicholas Ukachukwu, in concert with police officers, violently disrupted the delegate accreditation process at the Beautiful Gate Hotel, Awka.
hotel gate had reportedly been taken over by suspected Ukachukwu’s private security operatives and suspected thugs, who, with apparent support from police personnel on the ground, began preventing accredited delegates without Ukachukwu’s campaign identification from accessing the venue.
Politics
Soludo clinches APGA ticket unopposed for Anambra guber

Published
2 hours agoon
April 5, 2025By
Ekwutos Blog
Chukwuma Soludo, the governor of Anambra state, has been officially nominated as the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) candidate for the upcoming governorship election.
Soludo, who was returned unopposed, secured over 3,000 votes in the primary held on Saturday at the Ekwueme square, Awka.
Voting took place across the 21 local government areas of the state, where delegates were asked to cast a simple “yes” or “no” vote.
“Total delegates for this election is 3,260; 3,175 were accredited; 3,172 total votes cast, with four invalid votes,” Uche Nwegbo, chairman of the electoral panel, said.
“The governor received 3,168 yes-votes and no no-votes. By the powers conferred on me, I hereby declare Prof. Chukwuma Soludo as the candidate of our party.”
Soludo accepted the nomination and assured party members of continued development in the state.
“I want to say that I am humbled by this historic display of solidarity to be able to raise the flag of our party again, and I want to say that I accept this nomination wholeheartedly,” he said.
“Anambra keeps rising with the progressive leadership that we have had through APGA, and I will continue to appreciate the leadership of the party.
“I appreciate the members of our party and the INEC observers. I do not think that we have ever had this kind of peaceful election where everything was orderly and in one hour everyone was able to cast their votes.
“In 2021, Anambra interviewed all the candidates and employed me, and all through the journey, three years down the line, you have been able to give us support. That is why we have been able to do what we do, which people say is magical. We are doing this without borrowing one Naira, and I know we will continue to do even more, and we continue to ask for your prayers.
“We are only at the introductory stage; Anambra has not seen anything yet. I appreciate the citizens and captains of industries who have been supporting us, and we will keep growing higher and higher.
“I appreciate the support groups, especially all that endorsed us for a second term. They are still coming up with more donations to the campaigns, and I thank those market women who are still eager to donate to our campaign. Many political parties have declared support for us, and never in Anambra State have we ever had a consensus like what we have today.
“When I took oath of office, I promised not to let Anambra down, not to let my supporters down, not to let my family down, and not to let APGA down. We are working 247 to ensure that. Many people have said we do not have any opposition, but I say that we will not only win all 21 local governments but also the 326 wards. Someone said we should even aim for all the polling units in the state. We want to make a statement.”
Soludo said would retain Onyeka Ibezim, the deputy governor, as his running mate for the November 8 election.
“In 2017, I gave a lecture which I titled ‘If it is not broken, why mend it’, and it became popular. Today, I want to say that I am renominating Dr Onyeka Ibezim as my deputy governorship candidate for the election. If it is not broken, why mend it? I want to say that the battle has only begun,” he added.
Politics
BREAKING NEWS: Chief George Muoghalu emerges the flag bearer of the Labour party.

Published
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April 5, 2025By
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Chief Muoghalu is expected to slug it out with Prof. Charles Chukwuma Soludo popularly known as Solution master who had earlier been declared the flagbearer for the All Progressives Grand Alliance for November 8, 2025 Anambra State gubernatorial election.
we await the outcome of the All Progressives Congress’ primary election results.

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