Soludo Urges South-East Leaders to Abandon Opposition Politics, Align With FG

Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, has called on political leaders in the South-East to abandon opposition politics and embrace greater cooperation with the Federal Government ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Soludo made the appeal on Sunday during a stakeholders’ meeting in Awka, Anambra State, attended by political leaders and grassroots mobilisers from the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Accord Party.

He described the emerging coalition of political parties supporting President Bola Tinubu’s re-election as a new direction for the region’s political engagement, urging leaders to prioritise participation in governance at the national level.

The governor said the pattern of opposition politics that became prominent in the South-East after the 2015 general elections should give way to closer engagement with the Federal Government.

He argued that the 5,000 votes Tinubu received in Anambra during the 2023 presidential election had helped attract significant projects to the state and the wider region.

Soludo maintained that increased electoral support for the President could strengthen the region’s relationship with the Federal Government and create opportunities for additional infrastructure and development projects.

He acknowledged efforts by the Tinubu administration to improve foreign exchange availability and address fiscal challenges but said more work was needed to achieve the desired economic stability.

The governor also called for the restructuring of the coalition’s mobilisation arrangements, announcing that existing campaign structures would be streamlined during the week.

He urged campaign coordinators to intensify grassroots engagement through door-to-door mobilisation, citing political strategies used during the 1983 elections as a model.

Soludo further advised supporters not to be distracted by criticism from opposition figures on social media, urging them to concentrate on communicating the administration’s policies and achievements.

Earlier, APGA National Chairman, Sly Ezeokenwa, described the gathering as a significant political development in Anambra, noting that it brought together parties with different affiliations in support of Tinubu’s re-election.

He commended Soludo for facilitating the alliance and assured the governor that APGA’s structures would support the political direction.

Also speaking, the APC Chairman in Anambra, Senator Emma Anosike, said the realignment could strengthen the state’s engagement with the Federal Government and create opportunities for development.

He called on participating parties to cooperate despite their political differences in pursuit of the coalition’s objectives.

The meeting forms part of wider political mobilisation efforts by groups supporting Tinubu’s re-election ahead of the 2027 general elections.