ABAKALIKI, Ebonyi State — Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo has publicly endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at a rally in Ebonyi State, urging progressive forces across the country to unite for the sake of national development and political stability.
Governor Soludo made the endorsement on Monday while speaking as a special guest at the All Progressives Congress (APC) mega rally organised by the Minister of Works, David Umahi, in Abakaliki. The rally was held to demonstrate solidarity with President Tinubu and to formally adopt him as the sole presidential candidate for the 2027 general election.
The Anambra governor, who is a prominent member of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), used the occasion to praise President Tinubu’s leadership qualities, particularly his courage in implementing difficult economic reforms and his commitment to infrastructure development across all geopolitical zones, including the South-East.
Soludo, a former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria and a respected economist, acknowledged that the President’s policies, while tough in the short term, were necessary to reset the Nigerian economy on a path of sustainable growth. He called on Nigerians to support the administration rather than obstruct it, arguing that political stability is a precondition for economic progress.
The governor specifically commended President Tinubu for his administration’s focus on the South-East region, noting that federal road projects, including the ongoing construction of the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway and the Second Niger Bridge approaches, have demonstrated a commitment to addressing the region’s infrastructure deficits.
Soludo also praised his Ebonyi State counterpart, Governor Francis Nwifuru, and Minister Umahi for their leadership and for organising the rally. He described the event as a testament to the growing acceptance of President Tinubu’s vision among political leaders and citizens in the South-East, a region that has traditionally been perceived as opposition stronghold.
The Anambra governor further called on progressive forces across the country to close ranks and work together for the development of Nigeria. He argued that the era of divisive politics based on ethnicity, religion, or region must give way to a new politics of performance, competence, and delivery of democratic dividends.
Governor Soludo’s endorsement of President Tinubu is significant given his political background and the fact that Anambra State is governed by APGA, a party not officially allied with the ruling APC. His public declaration of support for the President signals a potential realignment of political forces ahead of the 2027 general election.
The governor also took the opportunity to address the issue of the South-East’s political future. He urged leaders from the region to engage constructively with the federal government rather than adopt an oppositional posture that has, in his view, yielded little tangible benefits for the people of the region over the years.
President Tinubu, who was represented at the rally by Vice President Kashim Shettima, acknowledged Governor Soludo’s endorsement with appreciation. The Vice President described Soludo as a man of intellect and integrity whose support for the President would resonate across the South-East and beyond.
The Ebonyi rally, which attracted thousands of APC supporters from across the state and neighbouring regions, also featured speeches from other governors, ministers, and National Assembly members. The event was widely seen as a show of force by the APC in the South-East, a region where the party has historically struggled to gain traction.
Political analysts have noted that Governor Soludo’s endorsement of President Tinubu could have significant implications for the political dynamics in Anambra State and the wider South-East. Some have speculated that the governor may be positioning himself for a potential defection to the APC or for a national role in a future Tinubu administration.
The reaction from opposition parties, including the Labour Party and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has been swift. Some leaders have criticised Soludo for abandoning the South-East’s quest for political relevance and aligning with a president they accuse of marginalising the region. Others have praised his courage to take an unpopular stance in the interest of development.
As the 2027 election cycle gathers momentum, Governor Soludo’s endorsement of President Tinubu adds a new dimension to the political calculus. For now, the message from Abakaliki is clear: progressive forces are rallying behind Tinubu, and the South-East may not be as united in opposition as many have assumed.
