APGA Speaks on Soludo Defecting to APC

The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has debunked reports suggesting that Anambra State Governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, is planning to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC). The party described the speculation as baseless and misleading, assuring supporters that Soludo remains fully committed to the APGA platform.

The clarification followed heightened speculation after Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, recently left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the APC, prompting talks of a possible ripple effect across the Southeast.

Speaking in Awka, APGA National Publicity Secretary, Mazi Ejimofor Opara, dismissed the rumours as “inordinate and completely unfounded.” He said Governor Soludo has no reason to abandon the party that brought him to power and continues to embody its ideology.

“Governor Soludo is not only committed to APGA; he represents the spirit of our movement,” Opara said. “Anambra people should rest assured — Soludo is going nowhere.”

Opara attributed the wave of defections from the PDP to deep-seated internal crises, noting that the collapse of the party in the region was long expected. He stressed that APGA’s dominance in Anambra remains unshaken.

“The unraveling of the PDP in the Southeast did not surprise us. It has been consumed by internal conflicts for years. But that has nothing to do with APGA’s stability,” he said. “We have produced three consecutive governors — Peter Obi, Willie Obiano, and now Chukwuma Soludo — and we are confident the trend will continue.”

He dismissed claims that APGA’s influence is waning, describing such talk as propaganda by opposition groups seeking attention. “What you are hearing is the usual chant from a struggling opposition looking for relevance,” Opara remarked. “Their stock-in-trade is falsehood, but the truth will always prevail. APGA is here to stay.”

Opara also clarified that while APGA and the APC maintain a cordial relationship at the national level and share some progressive ideals, there is no plan for defection or merger. “Let it be clear: collaboration on national issues does not mean defection. There is no need for Governor Soludo to leave APGA for any reason,” he stated.

Turning to the upcoming November 8 governorship election in Anambra, Opara dismissed claims by APC candidate Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu that he would take over the state, calling them “a mere fantasy unbacked by electoral reality.” He alleged internal divisions within the APC, citing unresolved disputes from its primary election and tensions between Ukachukwu and his running mate, Senator Uche Ekwunife.

Opara pointed to recent by-elections as evidence of APGA’s continued strength. “Ukachukwu and his allies could not even deliver their home wards. Those results showed that APGA’s base remains solid and have already set the tone for the November 8 poll,” he said.

Reaffirming the party’s focus ahead of the elections, Opara added that APGA remains committed to good governance and people-centered leadership. “We will not be distracted by noise from the opposition. Our mission is clear — to sustain good governance in Anambra and strengthen the APGA legacy,” he concluded.