Some candidates of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Anambra State have expressed concern that Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s decision to coordinate President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election campaign could damage their prospects in the general elections.
The candidates, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the governor’s alliance with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) had created uncertainty within APGA and risked driving voters toward the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), particularly among supporters of former governor Peter Obi.
Soludo was inaugurated on October 14 as the coordinator of Tinubu’s presidential campaign council in Anambra, alongside Osun Governor Ademola Adeleke for his state.
A House of Representatives candidate in Awka said the arrangement had slowed campaign activities because many APGA aspirants were unsure how to navigate the new political reality.
“Although the governor has convened a joint stakeholder meeting for APGA and the APC on Sunday to strategise ahead of the 2027 general elections, everything is currently at a standstill. Even campaigns have stopped because the candidates are confused,” she said.
She accused Soludo of failing to consult party members before accepting the role.
“The governor, who is the leader of the party, never told us from the beginning that anything like this would happen. APGA candidates across Anambra State are not happy right now, and they will never forgive Soludo,” she added.
The candidate warned that even strong APGA contenders could lose if voters used the ballot to protest the governor’s alignment with the APC while Obi remains a significant political force.
“There’s a possibility that APGA candidates might all lose, even the good candidates among us. The voters are not happy that the governor is aligning with the APC while their own person, Peter Obi, is also on the ballot,” she said.
A state House of Assembly candidate echoed the fears, saying rank-and-file candidates felt threatened by possible sympathy votes for NDC.
“How can market women or traders in rural areas be convinced to vote for the APC at the top and then APGA at the bottom? It doesn’t make sense to us. This might just give the NDC candidates the edge over us,” he said.
APGA Publicity Secretary in Anambra, Ejimofor Opara, dismissed the concerns, insisting the party remained committed to winning legislative seats while supporting Tinubu’s presidential bid.
The 2027 presidential and National Assembly elections are scheduled for January 16, according to the Independent National Electoral Commission.
