Barely a week to the Anambra State governorship election, the absence of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the All-Progressives Congress (APC) mega rally held in Onitsha on Friday, October 31, has deepened doubts about the ruling party’s readiness and strength in the upcoming poll.
The rally, which was expected to energize the APC base and solidify support for its candidate, Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu, witnessed a significant political twist as President Tinubu instead of attending personally was represented by Senate President Godswill Akpabio. This absence, political observers note, signals a weakening of enthusiasm within the party’s top ranks and may further embolden the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), the ruling party in the state led by Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo.
In his message delivered through Akpabio, President Tinubu lauded Soludo’s transformational leadership and economic vision, describing him as a “progressive ally” and a “friend of over two decades.” The President reportedly stated that he has known Soludo since 2003 and considers him “a credible leader whose developmental ideas align with progressive values.”
This open praise for an opposition governor just days before an election has sent strong political signals, suggesting a soft posture from the presidency toward the incumbent. Tinubu’s acknowledgement of Soludo as “a brilliant man working for a better Anambra and Nigeria” has fueled speculation that the APC may not be fully invested in the contest a view widely shared among local analysts and political stakeholders.
The President’s absence becomes even more significant when considered against the backdrop of Governor Soludo’s growing influence and his concept of “Progressives Working Together” a political ideology that transcends party lines and promotes cooperation among reform-minded leaders. This narrative, analysts argue, is blurring traditional party boundaries in the state and positioning Soludo as a unifying figure, even among rival political camps.
According to political analyst Dr. Chijioke Obatosu, Soludo’s political strategy is rooted in developmental pragmatism rather than partisan politics. “He has successfully redefined the political space in Anambra. Soludo’s focus on economic reform and good governance has won him respect beyond APGA. His relationship with Tinubu is not partisan but developmental and that’s what is making him politically untouchable,” he said.
Further adding to the perception of divided loyalty within the APC, the Minister of Works, Senator Dave Umahi, earlier in the year, praised Soludo during the flag-off of the Second Niger Bridge access road in Ogbunike, describing him as “a visionary leader with the people’s interest at heart.” Umahi even went as far as saying, “I don’t see anyone that can challenge you in the coming election,” a remark that underscored Soludo’s strong grip on the state and further highlighted cracks in APC’s internal confidence.
Within political circles, the late timing of the APC campaign flag-off just one week before the polls has also been interpreted as evidence of a lack of strategic coordination and enthusiasm within the party’s national structure. Many party loyalists privately admit that Anambra remains APGA’s stronghold, and that the absence of the President at such a critical juncture is a clear indicator of low expectations for victory.
As the election draws closer, the APC appears to be battling not just the dominance of APGA but also a perception crisis that the party’s top leadership is unwilling to challenge Soludo’s growing popularity. For voters and observers alike, President Tinubu’s absence at the rally and his repeated public admiration for Soludo send an unmistakable message: the battle for Anambra may already be lost before it begins.
Political watchers believe that unless the APC quickly rebuilds confidence among its supporters and distances itself from the perception of “silent endorsement” of the incumbent, it risks being humiliated at the polls. For now, all indications suggest that Governor Soludo’s developmental politics and strategic alliances are positioning him as the overwhelming favorite to retain power in the state.
