By Ogwu OmaOmale
When Professor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, the governor of Anambra State, ignited the fire that started the storm, little did he know it was going to rub off on his wife. He had questioned Uche Ekwunife’s academic qualifications, suggesting that her doctorate degree was fake.
Ekwunife did not take it kindly and in subdued anger, in a viral video, accused her state governor of a smelly mouth and bad body odour. She should have stopped there.
But no. She dragged in the Anambra First Lady, Nonye, inviting her to help her husband out with his unpleasant odours. A usually reticent Nonye Soludo snapped. She took on Uche, and went for her soft underbelly, using her own high moral ground against Uche’s much-rumoured, but unsubstantiated, alleged questionable morality.
In what has rapidly evolved into one of the most scandalous political firestorms in recent Nigerian memory, a deeply personal and sensational feud between the wife of Anambra State Governor, Mrs. Nonye Soludo, and former Senator Uche Ekwunife, has taken a controversial turn—dragging family honor, marital fidelity, and even the paternity of children into the public square.
What began as a political spat has spiraled into an all-out personal war, underpinned by accusations, counter-accusations, and extraordinary public challenges. And while the electorate watches with a mix of disbelief and discomfort, the reputations of two of Anambra’s most prominent women now hang in the balance.
From Politics to Personal Attacks
The origins of the crisis are murky, but the war of words reached a boiling point earlier this week when Mrs. Nonye Soludo released a long, impassioned open letter, responding to what she described as “shameless obscenities” and “malicious allegations” by Senator Uche Ekwunife. Though the exact nature of Ekwunife’s initial allegations remains vaguely referenced, Mrs. Soludo’s response appears to be triggered by insinuations about the paternity of her children and her moral character.
In a blistering rejoinder, the First Lady did not mince words. Instead, she doubled down, turning the tables and challenging the Senator to take not one but three public tests of integrity: a paternity test, an oath of chastity, and an honesty test involving religious rites.
“In my 55 years on planet earth, I have known ONLY ONE MAN, Chukwuma Soludo. I married him as a virgin and my fidelity to him in 33 years of marriage and for life is ironclad,” Mrs. Soludo declared.
She also made an audacious offer: to foot the bill for comprehensive paternity tests for both families at three reputable hospitals in London—a move she claimed would silence the doubters once and for all.
“Oath Before the Blessed Sacrament”
In perhaps the most startling twist, Mrs. Soludo went spiritual, throwing down a religious gauntlet. She challenged Senator Ekwunife to meet her at a Catholic cathedral, swear on the Bible, and take an oath of fidelity and chastity in front of the Blessed Sacrament.
“You mentioned screenshotting someone’s name and putting it in your Bible,” she jabbed at Ekwunife. “So, you must know the efficacy of the Holy Book.”
Her dramatic statement exuded a blend of conservative Catholicism and modern feminism—asserting chastity not as submission but as a badge of honor and moral superiority.
Ekwunife Hits Back: “Leave Me Out of Your Paternity Crisis”
Senator Ekwunife’s reaction was swift and, in its own way, just as fiery. While refusing to descend fully into the mudslinging she actally started by making untoward remarks about Governor Soludo and dragging Nonye into it, she categorically rejected the notion that she owed Mrs. Soludo—or anyone else—an explanation about fidelity or family life.
“She owes her husband those explanations and other actions that could exonerate her and prove her innocence over paternity of her children. Not me!” the Senator retorted.
In a move that appeared calculated to both distance herself and cast doubt on the First Lady’s motivations, Ekwunife dismissed the DNA challenge as unnecessary and irrelevant.
“If Soludo demands a DNA on his children, let Nonye go ahead with her full chest and do it… Why drag me into her personal and family affairs?”
She also took a jab at Mrs. Soludo’s public profile, questioning her achievements and suggesting that her visibility and impact paled in comparison to her own work in public service.
“I want to advise Mrs. Soludo to strive harder to achieve one quarter of what I have achieved as a woman whose husband has never held any position.”
Political Undertones or Personal Vendettas?
To many observers, this unfolding drama is about far more than marital fidelity. The feud is steeped in deep-seated political rivalry.
Both women represent distinct archetypes in Nigerian political life:
• Mrs. Nonye Soludo, the reserved but assertive First Lady, claims moral high ground through family values and religious convictions.
• Senator Uche Ekwunife, an outspoken career politician and former lawmaker, leans into her record of public service and independence.
Some analysts say the spat reflects the tension between technocratic governance and grassroots political structures—a battle between elitism and populisOthMany Nigerians already know the proxy war for the 2027 gubernatorial race in Anambra, where Ekwunife is the Deputy gubernatorial candidate to Nicholas Ukachukwu, the All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial candidate in Anambra’s off-season election against incumbent Soludo.
The inclusion of personal matters—particularly DNA tests and oaths—has alarmed many, who worry that political discourse in the state is being reduced to tabloid material.
Public Reaction: Shock, Discomfort, and Disbelief
The fallout on social media has been swift and polarising. While some hailed Mrs. Soludo’s candour as courageous and “uncommon among political spouses,” others condemned the public airing of private matters as disgraceful and unbecoming of public figures.
A trending hashtag on X (formerly Twitter), #SoludoVsEkwunife, has racked up over 150,000 posts in two days. Memes, conspiracy theories, and opinion threads abound.
“What happened to political debates and policy discussions? This feels like Nollywood,” wrote one user.
“DNA tests? Religious oaths? Are we in 2025 or the medieval era?” another posted.
Religious groups, women’s organisations, and political commentators have also begun weighing in—some calling for both women to de-escalate for the sake of Anambra’s image.
The Bigger Picture: Gender, Power, and Public Scrutiny
Beyond the tabloid-style drama, this saga raises uncomfortable questions about the scrutiny that powerful women face in Nigerian politics.
Would male politicians ever be challenged to prove their chastity or fidelity? Would they be expected to take oaths or offer DNA tests in public?
Political analyst Ifeoma Ezeugo notes:
“There is a gendered undertone here. Both women are being judged more for their personal lives than their public impact. It reflects a society still struggling to separate leadership from domesticity when it comes to women.”
What Next?
For now, Mrs. Soludo has given Senator Ekwunife a 72-hour ultimatum to retract her comments and apologise—or face legal action. Meanwhile, Ekwunife appears unfazed, signaling that she has moved on to “focus on saving Anambra from misrule.”
Yet the shadow of this very public feud will likely loom over Anambra politics for months to come—especially if the 2027 elections pit these two powerful women against each other in more formal terms.
Final Word
Whether this drama marks a personal meltdown, a political strategy, or a moment of catharsis in Nigerian public life, one thing is clear: the lines between the personal and the political have never been more blurred—and the people of Anambra are caught watching the spectacle unfold.
Have thoughts about this story? Join the conversation on X using the hashtag #SoludoVsEkwunife
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