Tinubu Reaffirms Alliance with Soludo, Applauds Developmental Strides in Anambra

Days before the Anambra State gubernatorial election, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was notably absent from the All Progressives Congress (APC) “mega rally” held on Friday, October 31, in Onitsha, raising questions about the party’s preparedness in a state long dominated by the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

Despite his absence, President Tinubu reaffirmed his long-standing friendship with Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo, whom he has known since 2003. Represented at the rally by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, the President expressed satisfaction with Soludo’s transformational leadership, highlighting the governor’s success in turning Anambra into a hub for economic and business activities through reforms across key sectors of the state economy.

The timing of the APC campaign launch just a week before the election, with Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu as its governorship candidate has drawn criticism, with analysts suggesting it signals a lack of seriousness in challenging the incumbent administration.

In recent months, Soludo has promoted a “Progressives Working Together” approach, emphasizing developmental collaboration over party affiliation, and leveraging his 22year friendship with Tinubu to consolidate support across political lines.

Earlier, during the flag-off of the Second Niger Bridge access road at Ogbunike, Minister of Works Senator Dave Umahi commended Soludo’s visionary leadership, stating, “I don’t see anyone that can challenge you in the election.” Similarly, during a state visit in May, President Tinubu publicly reaffirmed his bond with Soludo: “Governor Soludo has been my friend since 2003. I salute his vision. He is a brilliant man, and we will keep working together.”

Political analyst Dr. Chijoke Obatosu described Soludo’s approach as “development-focused politics,” which prioritizes infrastructural and economic progress over partisan divisions. By leveraging his expertise as a socio-political economist, Soludo is driving a governance model that aligns stakeholders toward tangible development, positioning him strongly in the lead-up to the November 8 election.