The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has inaugurated a 489-member campaign council in preparation for the re-election bid of Professor Charles Soludo in the upcoming November 8 Anambra State governorship election.
During the inauguration, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo used the occasion to publicly endorse Governor Soludo’s re-election. According to the group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo the apex Igbo socio-cultural organization reaffirmed its commitment to support any performing governor in the South East geopolitical zone, irrespective of party affiliation.
The National Secretary of Ohanaeze Ndigbo and former Deputy Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Emeka Sibudu, explained that the endorsement aligns with the organization’s standing policy: to support any governor of Igbo extraction who is performing well. “Governor Soludo is doing exceptionally well, and our support is to encourage him to continue his commendable work in the state.
“The people of Anambra State can attest to his achievements. It is clear that he is performing, and we in Ohanaeze Ndigbo congratulate him for his great performance,” Sibudu added.
Also speaking at the event, the National Chairman of APGA, Barr. Sylvester Ezeokenwa, and the State Chairman, Chief Ifeatu Obi-Okoye, described the campaign launch as a harbinger of total victory for the party in the upcoming election. They emphasized that no electoral ward would be left behind.
“There is no real contest in the November 8 gubernatorial election. “The people of Anambra have already endorsed Governor Soludo’s candidacy.”they said.
The Director-General of the Campaign Council and Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Solo Chukwulobelu, stressed the importance of grassroots mobilization, reminding party members that elections are won at the polling unit and ward levels.
Speaking shortly after the inauguration, Governor Soludo affirmed that APGA is now stronger and more united than ever, citing the Igbo spirit of communal support.
“This campaign council of 489 members represents a movement within a population of about 8.5 million Anambra people. As members of this council, you are all apostles of this mission.”
“We did it in 2010, 2013, and 2017,”
“But I tell you one thing,there has never been a time in the history of APGA and Anambra State when the party has been more united and stronger than it is today.”he stated.
Reflecting on APGA’s internal struggles in the past, Soludo recalled, “In 2009 and 2010, no National Chairman signed the nomination form for the party’s governorship candidate. It was the doctrine of necessity that saved us. While the National Chairman stood on one side, the National Leader on another, and the National Secretary belonged to yet another faction, we still found a way to move forward.”
“There were the Maxi Okwu and Victor Umeh factions, and efforts were made to reconcile them. Yet, despite these internal crises, in 2017 we won all 21 local governments 21 over 21.”
He went on to recall how the party prevailed through intense political battles: “At one point, we went as far as Birnin Kudu, at the boundary between Niger and Nigeria, and returned victorious. Even last year, they came again, and we defeated them.”
Taking a swipe at the All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial candidate, Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu, Soludo mocked his claim that the recent by-election would serve as a “test case” for the November 8 election.
“On August 16, we didn’t call it a mock election but the APC candidate did. He called it a ‘do-or-die’ affair, saying it would prove whether they were serious about winning in November,”
“On that day, we witnessed allied forces in Onitsha North those who lay curses on people at altars, their presidential candidate, traditional rulers, and senators—all mobilized just for a state constituency election.
“Some of them chose that time to begin attending August meetings. But all their actions were in defiance of the will of God and the will of the people. Sadly, none of them paused to ask what God had actually said.”Soludo stated.
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