Soludo Inaugurates Tinubu’s 2027 Re-election Campaign in Anambra, Says Igbo Must Join National Power Structure

AWKA — Anambra State Governor, Professor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, has inaugurated the campaign structure for the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the state, declaring that the emerging cross-party political alliance represents a struggle for the future of Nigeria, Ndigbo and Anambra State.

Soludo, who is the Anambra State Coordinator of Tinubu’s re-election campaign, made the declaration on Sunday, November 1, 2026, during the inauguration of the presidential campaign structure at the International Convention Centre (ICC), Awka.

The governor described the gathering of political leaders across different parties as a strategic decision to reposition Anambra and the South-East within the national political structure, insisting that the region could no longer afford to remain politically isolated from the centre.

He characterised the forthcoming presidential election as a contest between emotion and reason, arguing that while emotional politics could influence political decisions temporarily, strategic thinking and calculations of long-term interests would ultimately determine the direction of the country.

According to him, the primary objective of the political alliance is to secure Tinubu’s re-election, even as candidates contesting governorship, legislative and other positions under different party platforms remain free to pursue their individual electoral ambitions.

Soludo assured political stakeholders that the coalition would provide a level playing field for candidates across party lines but emphasised that the collective responsibility of the alliance was to mobilise support for the President.

The inauguration represents a significant political realignment in Anambra, bringing together stakeholders from the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Accord Party in support of Tinubu’s second-term ambition.

Soludo: Ndigbo Cannot Afford Political Isolation

Explaining the rationale behind the political alliance, Soludo recalled the participation of prominent Igbo leaders in national politics, including Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Dr. Alex Ekwueme and Dr. Chuba Okadigbo.

He argued that the political history of the South-East demonstrated the importance of engaging actively in national affairs rather than retreating into regional political isolation.

The governor said the region’s political future depended significantly on its ability to establish strategic relationships with the federal government and participate meaningfully in national decision-making.

He maintained that the alliance was not necessarily a departure from the political ideals of APGA, which he said shared progressive principles with the APC, particularly in the areas of federalism, development and shared prosperity.

According to Soludo, APGA had recognised the importance of working with the central administration and resolved to align with the federal government in pursuit of national development.

He added that Tinubu understood the importance of progressive political forces working together to advance the country’s development.

Soludo stressed that political parties should not allow differences in platforms to prevent cooperation on issues of national importance.

‘Opposition And Protest Politics Must End’

Reflecting on his political journey, which he said began in 1980 under the philosophy of “one nation, one destiny,” the governor urged Ndigbo to reconsider their political strategies and evaluate the long-term consequences of remaining outside the dominant national political structure.

He recalled historical political developments involving Azikiwe and Ekwueme, arguing that national political alignment had often provided opportunities for Igbo leaders to participate in central governance.

Soludo urged the people of the South-East to examine their political interests beyond immediate electoral sentiments.

He argued that the resources available to state governments, including revenue allocations and internally generated revenue, were insufficient to finance major infrastructure projects such as federal railway lines and gas pipelines without cooperation with the federal government.

According to him, Anambra and the wider South-East would benefit from stronger partnerships with the central administration, particularly in the areas of infrastructure, economic development and national investment.

The governor declared that the era of opposition and protest politics, which he said had characterised the region’s political approach since 2015, should give way to a more pragmatic strategy of participating directly in national governance.

He insisted that political engagement with the federal government should be driven by the desire to secure tangible development outcomes for the people rather than by sentiment.

Soludo Questions Anambra’s Political Returns

The governor also questioned the political implications of the relatively low number of votes Tinubu received in Anambra during the 2023 presidential election.

He noted that despite the President securing slightly more than 5,000 votes in the state during the election, the federal government had extended support to Anambra.

Soludo challenged political leaders and voters in the state to consider the potential benefits of stronger electoral support for Tinubu in 2027.

He suggested that greater political backing could strengthen the state’s bargaining position and improve its prospects of attracting additional federal projects and interventions.

The governor’s argument centred on the need for Anambra to move from political opposition to strategic participation in the federal government.

He maintained that the state’s development aspirations could be better advanced through cooperation with the national leadership.

‘A Fractured Opposition Cannot Defeat A Strong Incumbent’

Addressing the political dynamics ahead of the 2027 presidential election, Soludo argued that a fragmented opposition would struggle to defeat a strong incumbent.

He claimed that political history had demonstrated the difficulty of defeating an incumbent president when opposition forces remained divided.

The governor also referenced his record of predicting presidential election outcomes in Nigeria since 1983, saying his assessment of the country’s political trajectory was informed by historical experience.

Soludo further argued that Ndigbo needed to consider the long-term implications of the country’s power rotation arrangements.

According to him, following the completion of the South’s second presidential term, power is expected to return to the North before eventually returning to the South around 2039.

He said the projected political sequence made it important for the South-East to position itself within the national political structure now rather than wait until future opportunities emerged.

The governor urged the region to build political relationships that could strengthen its influence in national affairs over time.

Campaign Structures To Be Completed Next Week

Outlining the campaign’s operational strategy, Soludo announced that campaign structures across Anambra State would be streamlined before the end of the following week.

He emphasised that electoral victories were determined at polling units and ward levels, rather than through political declarations or social media campaigns.

The governor therefore urged campaign leaders and supporters to concentrate on grassroots mobilisation, voter engagement and the establishment of effective structures across the state.

He advised supporters to remain steadfast in the face of opposition criticism, political attacks and online verbal abuse.

Soludo urged them to remain focused on the campaign’s objectives and avoid being distracted by controversies.

He said his political decisions were guided by the need to secure a better future for younger generations and ensure that the state’s long-term interests were protected.

The governor also acknowledged ongoing federal fiscal interventions aimed at improving foreign exchange availability for importers, noting that although progress had been made, considerable work remained to be done.

Senator Anosike, APGA Chairman Endorse Alliance

Speaking at the inauguration, Senator Anosike acknowledged that he had initially approached the meeting with some reservations but said he was impressed by the developmental strides he observed in Anambra State.

He explained that the central purpose of the political coalition was to ensure that Anambra and its people participated more directly in the affairs of the federal government.

Anosike called on political leaders and supporters to maintain unity during the period of national political transition.

He also clarified that candidates contesting elective offices under different party platforms remained free to demonstrate their political capacity and pursue their ambitions.

However, he stressed that all members of the coalition must work together to ensure Tinubu’s victory in the 2027 presidential election.

The APGA National Chairman, Barrister Sly Ezeokenwa, described the gathering as an unprecedented political coalition united around the single objective of securing Tinubu’s re-election.

Ezeokenwa commended Soludo for facilitating the political alignment, describing the governor’s leadership as instrumental to bringing together political stakeholders from different parties.

He reaffirmed APGA’s readiness to mobilise its structures and execute campaign directives aimed at delivering victory for the President in Anambra.

The participation of leaders from APGA, APC, PDP and Accord Party underscored the breadth of the political realignment and its potential implications for the 2027 presidential election in the South-East.

Anambra’s Political Calculations Ahead Of 2027

The inauguration of Tinubu’s campaign structure in Anambra comes against the backdrop of longstanding political debates over the South-East’s relationship with the federal government and its participation in national power.

Soludo’s position reflects an argument increasingly central to the region’s political discourse: whether continued opposition to the ruling party offers the South-East sufficient opportunities to influence federal policies and attract development, or whether strategic political alignment could provide a more effective route to national participation.

By bringing together political leaders across party lines, the governor is seeking to establish a coalition that transcends traditional party loyalties in pursuit of a common presidential objective.

However, the ultimate strength of the alliance will depend on its ability to translate the support of political leaders into grassroots mobilisation and votes at the polling units.

With the campaign structures expected to be completed in the coming days, attention will now shift to the coalition’s capacity to sustain its unity, mobilise voters and demonstrate that its political realignment can produce measurable benefits for Anambra State and the South-East.

For Soludo, the message is clear: Ndigbo must move beyond political isolation and become active participants in the national power structure if they are to secure a stronger voice in Nigeria’s future.