Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State has pledged full support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Soludo, the sole governor from the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), made the declaration on Thursday during Tinubu’s visit to Anambra, describing the occasion as both “historic and symbolic”.
The endorsement comes even as President Tinubu, of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), has yet to formally announce his re-election bid.
Soludo’s move mirrors that of Akwa Ibom State Governor Umo Eno, a member of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who also recently expressed support for Tinubu’s second-term ambition — a development that has fuelled concerns about Nigeria drifting toward a one-party state amid the continued weakening of opposition forces.
Speaking during the event, Soludo said the APGA and the APC share a common ideological foundation in progressivism.
“In 2011, before I joined APGA in 2013, the party took an official position to support and collaborate with the political party and government at the centre. That year, APGA adopted the then-sitting president as its presidential candidate. That policy has not changed,” Soludo said.
“Coincidentally, Mr President, the current government at the centre also professes progressivism. As Nigeria’s foremost progressive party, APGA is ideologically and strategically aligned with the centre. Those in the APC are our brothers and sisters,” he added.
Soludo, who is seeking re-election in November, noted that all parties with a progressive bent must unite to deliver ideologically driven governance.
“In preparation for this visit, some raised concerns about making it a partisan event. But I insisted the APC in Anambra be allowed to come out in their colours and welcome the president, all in the spirit of progressivism,” he said. “We are progressives together. Here in Anambra, we know who leads the progressive movement.”
He called for unity among centre-left political actors under Tinubu’s leadership.
“Mr President, it is time for all progressives, federalists, and social democratic-leaning parties to unite in advancing the cause of a united and progressive Nigeria. We request you, as the leader of the largest progressive party, to rally us together in this ideological movement,” Soludo said.
As part of the president’s visit, all 179 communities in Anambra conferred on Tinubu the chieftaincy title Dike Simba Anambra, in recognition of what Soludo described as the president’s leadership and support for the state.
“This title, along with the overwhelming reception across the state, shows that Anambra people are solidly behind you, Mr President,” the governor said.
