By Ifeyinwa Ogwo
The Anambra State Governor and National Leader of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, has urged party members to take APGA candidates’ campaigns to the grassroots. “Today we are flagging off our campaign. The 44 candidates from Anambra State and some contestants from other parts of Nigeria have been given the party’s flags.
“I urge you to step out, house to house, door to door, polling unit to polling unit, market to market, everywhere, and make sure that on the 16th of January and 6th of February 2027, APGA candidates emerge victorious.” The governor made these remarks during the party’s official campaign flag-off at Alex Ekwueme Square in Awka on November 6.
He announced that APGA, a foremost progressive party in Nigeria, had officially adopted incumbent President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as its presidential candidate. He explained that APGA adopted President Goodluck Jonathan as its presidential candidate in 2011 and 2015, and was doing so again in 2027 because progressives were working together.
“This time is not just that we are supporting the party at the centre; we are supporting the President who loved the Igbo people and Anambra people at large. When he was Governor of Lagos State, he made an Anambra man, Ben Akabueze, from Ifitedunu, one of his Commissioners. As President, he is stabilising the foreign exchange market, maintaining and building road infrastructure in Anambra. So spread the gospel to every polling unit to support the reelection of President Tinubu,” he stated. Afterwards, Governor Soludo presented the party’s flag to the candidates.
The APGA National Chairman, Barr. Sly Ezeokenwa said the gathering was to launch the party’s campaign. He thanked party members, particularly those from the state, for turning out en masse to support the party. “There are so many persons in the opposition who believe that the party will be divided, but over the years, Anambra State has continued to thrive under our great party, APGA.
“We are well-equipped to perform again at this forum, proving in the coming election that Anambra State is an APGA fortress. Let me specially commend our Governor/National Leader, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, for creating a competitive platform for our party in Anambra State. It was observed by the media outstation in the country that the APGA primary was the most competitive, which complied with the Electoral Act,” he said.
Barr. Ezeokenwa said APGA’s growing membership was due to the Governor’s people-oriented policies, which benefit the people of Anambra State, and his continued efforts to show the way. “All our candidates are people who will go to Abuja and make you proud.”
APGA State Chairman Chief Ifeatu Obi-Okoye welcomed everyone, including distinguished guests from Abuja, the candidates, and others. He noted that the event was to officially hand the party flag to the candidates. “Before now, you have been carrying all sorts of flags, but the flag that we will give you today is the one that will give you victory in this general election,” he said.
In their goodwill messages, APGA National Women Leader Barr. Lizzy Nwokeocha, APGA National Youth Leader Mr Onyebuchi Chukwu, APGA National Auditor Southwest Pastor Olatunji Popoola, and others thanked the governor for endorsing President Tinubu as the party’s presidential candidate.
Those present at the event included Deputy Governor Dr Onyekachukwu Ibezim; Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Somtoochukwu Udeze; Secretary to the State Government, Mrs Chiamaka Nnake; Chief of Staff, Ben Nwankwo; Head of Service, Barr. Ngozi Iwouno; MD/CEO of the South-East Development Commission (SEDC), Dr Mark Okoye; and Commissioner for Information, Dr Law.
Ifeyinwa Ogwo is of the Ministry of Information and Value Reformation, Anambra State
