By Ebuka Onyekwelu, PhD
The Governor of Anambra State, Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo, has formally announced the adoption of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) for the 2027 Nigerian Presidential Election.
Soludo described President Tinubu as “the president who loves Ndi Igbo” and also as the president who “is business-friendly”.
This vote of confidence was passed on President Tinubu by Professor Soludo on Friday during the flag-off of APGA’s national campaign, at the Dr. Alex Ekwueme Square in Awka, attended by thousands of party faithful, the National Working Committee members of APGA, candidates of the party for various positions, as well as party members. Attendees also included the 44 candidates of the APGA for National and State Assembly elections in Anambra State, members of the State Executive Council, and other government functionaries.
The State Chairmen of APGA in Imo, Enugu, Ebonyi, and Abia were also in attendance.
In his remarks, the National Leader of APGA, Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo, charged APGA candidates and members to go all out and campaign vigorously. “We urge you, step out! Everywhere! We will win. Those contesting for the State Assembly in Anambra, it is going to be 30 over 30. APGA for Senate. APGA for the House of Representatives. It is 3 over 3 and 11 over 11. We are APGA. We are progressives…We believe in the unity, prosperity, and progress of Nigeria. Ndi APGA, let’s go and make history. I will be with you campaigning all the way… We are battle-ready,” Governor Soludo assured.
Governor Soludo also announced that APGA has formally adopted President Tinubu as its presidential candidate, thanking the NWC of APGA for ratifying the decision. “APGA, as a political party, has made it formal that we adopt President Tinubu as our presidential candidate”, Soludo announced. Outlining the basis for the decision by APGA, Soludo pointed out that President Tinubu’s love for Ndi Igbo and Ndi Anambra led to the appointment of Mr. Ben Akabueze from Anambra as his Commissioner for Budget when he was Governor in Lagos State, as well as his appointment of Mr. Joe Igbokwe, also from Anambra State. “The President has stood with us,” Soludo said, also pointing to the stabilization of the foreign exchange, which is beneficial to importers from the Southeast, and the ongoing road revolution in the Southeast, as well as the NELFUND for students, among many others. Speaking as a globally reputable economist, Professor Soludo said he has confirmed that the Nigerian economy is on the right path. This position, he said, has also been publicly acknowledged by Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the Director-General of the World Trade Organization.
Charging APGA supporters and candidates, Professor Soludo assured that APGA will be everywhere campaigning for all its candidates and the president. “We are going to go to every nook and cranny and spread the message…It is in our enlightened self-interest that the President’s victory derives from our support. Our votes will count. We are going to win with the President, and Anambra votes must count. When the Presidency gets to us, we will do 8 years. Let’s get to work. The hard work begins,” Professor Soludo declared.
In their separate remarks, the APGA National Deputy Chairman, North, thanked Governor Soludo for his leadership of APGA, as well as for the safety of the Arewa community in Anambra. The National Woman Leader of APGA, Lizzy Nkwocha, Esq., while thanking Governor Soludo, assured of full support to President Tinubu. “I thank our leader for supporting the party at the centre for the re-election of the President. I want to assure our leader that the women are standing solidly with him,” she said. Similarly, the National Auditor of APGA, Ola Kpokpo Ola, the National Youth Leader, Onyebuchi Chukwu, Anambra State Chairman of APGA, Ifeatu Obi-Okoye, Esq., and the senatorial candidate of APGA in Ebonyi North senatorial district, Mr. Ojimba, thanked Professor Soludo and also assured him of support and maximum mobilization for the president and APGA candidates.
On his part, the National Chairman of APGA, Sly Ezeokenwa, Esq., thanked Governor Soludo for providing leadership. He also attributed APGA’s success to the enabling environment provided by Governor Soludo. “If you had not provided the enabling environment for APGA to flourish, we would not have been able to do that. We are grateful. We know that with you, we are going to go to this battle and emerge victorious,” Ezeokenwa noted.
With today’s flag-off, APGA has effectively commenced a serious mobilization for votes for the President’s re-election, as well as the election of all National and State Assembly candidates of the party.