The political atmosphere in Anambra State took a dramatic turn as the South-East chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) debunked rumors suggesting that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has thrown his weight behind Governor Charles Soludo's 2027 re-election bid.
This clarification followed President Tinubu’s recent working visit to Anambra, during which he commissioned several infrastructure projects across the state. While some observers and political allies of the Anambra governor attempted to interpret the visit as a silent endorsement of Soludo’s second term ambition, the APC leadership in the region has categorically shut down such insinuations.
In an interview with The Punch, the APC South-East Vice Chairman, Dr. Ijeomah Arodiogbu, firmly dismissed the speculations, warning against twisting the President’s visit for political gain.
“President Tinubu’s visit should not be misinterpreted as an endorsement. Many of the projects he commissioned were started by previous administrations, not necessarily the present one. It was a presidential duty, not a campaign stop,” Arodiogbu stated.
Sources within the APC also revealed that there have been quiet, behind-the-scenes pleas from Soludo’s allies to curry favor with the presidency in hopes of securing support ahead of the 2027 gubernatorial election. These overtures, however, have reportedly fallen on deaf ears, as Tinubu’s camp remains wary of prematurely aligning with non-party members, especially in strategic states like Anambra where the APC seeks to establish a stronger foothold.
The APC’s swift rebuttal signals an internal consensus that the party will not be lending its presidential influence to a sitting governor from another political party—especially one whose loyalty to Tinubu’s national agenda remains questionable.
This development comes at a critical time, with internal permutations intensifying ahead of the 2025 governorship election in Anambra. The APC appears poised to present its own formidable candidate, further signaling the end of any illusion that Soludo might coast to victory with federal backing.
The message from the APC is clear: gratitude for federal presence in Anambra should not be confused with political patronage. President Tinubu, a master strategist, is not in the business of gifting endorsements based on sentiment or optics.
As 2027 draws near, the South-East political landscape is set for a shakeup—and it is evident that the APC intends to take no prisoners in its bid to reclaim the region from opposition hands.