Ahead of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s visit to Anambra State today, the Presidency has directed members of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and Governor Soludo Support Groups not to wear their uniforms during the President’s reception.
Sources close to the matter revealed that this decision was made to avoid giving the event a partisan tone.
According to insiders, the President’s visit is primarily in response to an invitation from Chief Emeka Anyaoku, former Secretary of the Commonwealth, who is hosting an event at Nnamdi Azikiwe University in Awka.
The President’s political party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), had expressed concerns that the visit could be perceived as a vote of no confidence in their governorship candidate, Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu, especially given the timing in an electioneering period.
A source familiar with the planning of the visit confirmed that the ban on uniforms was one of the conditions set before the President agreed to attend.
“This APGA uniform issue is one of the conditions given before BAT agrees to come,” the source said.
Following this directive, Dr. Alex Obiogbolu, Special Adviser to Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo, issued a statement informing attendees of the President’s reception to dress in Mufti.
“This is to inform you that everybody coming to Dr. Alex Ekwueme Square, Awka for the reception of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu tomorrow( today) should be in Mufti,” Dr. Obiogbolu said, adding, “Please, nobody should put on APGA clothes or Support Groups uniforms.”
The move aims to emphasize the non-partisan nature of the President’s visit, focusing on the commissioning of projects executed by Governor Soludo’s administration, without more.
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