Anambra 2025: Tinubu, APC Have No Deal with Soludo – Obiora Okonkwo

Prof. Obiora Okonkwo, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and a governorship aspirant in Anambra State, has dismissed claims that Governor Chukwuma Soludo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has an agreement with President Bola Tinubu and the APC for his reelection.

Okonkwo described these claims as fraudulent, rejecting suggestions that Soludo worked for Tinubu in the last presidential election in exchange for support in securing a second term. He argued that if such an agreement existed, Tinubu would have secured the constitutional 25% of votes in Anambra, which did not happen.

Speaking in Abuja after submitting his nomination and expression of interest forms, Okonkwo criticized APGA’s alleged strategy of making promises to deliver votes to the APC but failing to do so. He claimed that Anambra has been under APGA leadership for over two decades, with each governor pledging to deliver 25% of the votes to APC candidates but ultimately failing to even secure 1%.

According to Okonkwo, Soludo’s actions prove he does not support the APC, citing a letter from the APC Presidential Campaign Council requesting a courtesy visit from Tinubu during the campaign, which Soludo allegedly ignored multiple times. He argued that supporting Soludo’s reelection would be a mistake for the APC, stating that a sitting APC governor would have a better chance of winning the state outright rather than relying on Soludo’s unfulfilled promises.

Okonkwo dismissed any possibility of the APC falling for what he described as an APGA “gimmick,” asserting that the party is led by experienced politicians who will not sabotage their own candidate. He also claimed that APGA, once led by the revered Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, no longer has a stronghold in Anambra.

The APC aspirant vowed to build a broad coalition to defeat Soludo and ensure that Anambra aligns with the ruling party at the national level. Arriving at the APC national secretariat in Abuja in a carnival-like atmosphere, Okonkwo expressed confidence in his candidacy, stating that he had sought divine guidance through prayers and fasting before submitting his forms.

“We have successfully completed this phase of the race, and by God’s grace, we will emerge victorious in the primaries,” he said.