From The Nijasun News Analysis Desk
Governor Charles Soludo’s appointment as Anambra State Coordinator of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election campaign raises a critical political question: Can Soludo lead APGA while coordinating the presidential campaign of an APC leader without undermining his own party ahead of the 2027 general election?
The appointment may reflect political pragmatism, national integration and a desire to strengthen Anambra’s relationship with the Federal Government. However, it also places the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), the platform that brought Soludo to power, in a delicate position.
The issue is not whether Soludo has the right to support Tinubu. It is whether that support will strengthen Anambra’s interests without weakening APGA and its candidates.
Where does party loyalty begin and end?
Soludo is not merely an individual politician endorsing Tinubu. He is a sitting Governor and one of APGA’s most influential leaders. His political decisions could shape the choices of party officials, elected representatives and grassroots supporters.
Supporting an APC presidential candidate does not automatically amount to anti-party activity. The situation becomes more contentious, however, if Soludo deploys APGA’s structures to support APC candidates against APGA candidates contesting National Assembly seats.
The distinction is clear: supporting Tinubu is one thing; undermining APGA candidates is another.
Whether any conduct amounts to anti-party activity would depend on APGA’s constitution, the applicable law and the specific actions involved. The appointment alone is not proof of wrongdoing.
Could APGA lose ground to the APC?
The 2027 general election will present APGA candidates with a different challenge from Soludo’s presidential campaign assignment.
APGA candidates contesting senatorial and House of Representatives seats will face opponents from the APC and other parties. If Soludo’s political machinery becomes heavily invested in the APC’s presidential project, questions will arise over whether APGA candidates will receive the same organisational backing.
The risks are significant. APGA supporters could become confused about which candidates to support, while APC contenders could benefit from political networks traditionally associated with APGA.
Such a development could weaken APGA’s grassroots mobilisation, diminish its bargaining power and deepen divisions within the party.
The greatest danger would arise if APGA structures were actively mobilised for APC candidates in constituencies where both parties are competing. That would go beyond presidential cooperation and raise a serious question about the party’s ability to defend its electoral interests.
Can APGA benefit from Soludo’s relationship with Tinubu?
The appointment could also offer opportunities. Soludo may believe that a closer relationship with Tinubu will improve Anambra’s access to federal cooperation, infrastructure, appointments and development opportunities. If tangible benefits follow, he could defend the arrangement as a strategic decision in the state’s interest.
APGA could also benefit indirectly from a stronger relationship with the presidency.
However, such benefits are not guaranteed. The APC could gain more directly by expanding its political influence in Anambra, while APGA struggles to protect its legislative ambitions.
The critical question is whether Soludo can convert his national political relationship into benefits for Anambra without sacrificing APGA’s independence.
A test of APGA’s internal democracy
The appointment also challenges APGA to clarify its political direction.
Will the party accept Soludo’s role as a limited presidential alliance, or is it entering a broader electoral partnership with the APC? Will APGA candidates remain free to compete against APC candidates, and will the party’s structures continue to support them?
These questions require clear answers before the campaign season intensifies.
APGA should establish firm boundaries between presidential cooperation and legislative contests. Its candidates must be able to campaign freely and receive legitimate party support, regardless of Soludo’s preference for the presidency.
The APC, for its part, must clarify whether its relationship with Soludo is limited to Tinubu’s re-election or carries wider expectations for the 2027 legislative elections.
An informal alliance without clearly defined terms could become a source of political conflict.
The legal question
Soludo’s appointment does not, by itself, establish a violation of electoral law. Any allegation of anti-party activity must be assessed against APGA’s rules and the facts of the conduct involved.
There is also a distinction between private political activity and the official responsibilities of a sitting governor.
Government personnel, public funds and state institutions must not be treated as campaign resources merely because the Governor holds a political campaign position.
APGA must therefore avoid both extremes: declaring Soludo guilty of anti-party activity simply because he supports Tinubu, or dismissing legitimate concerns about the consequences of his appointment.
The real test ahead of 2027
Soludo’s appointment could strengthen his national political standing and deepen his relationship with the presidency. But it could also expose APGA to electoral risks if the party’s structures are redirected towards advancing the interests of its political rival.
The solution lies in clear political boundaries. Soludo can support Tinubu while reaffirming his commitment to APGA candidates. APGA can pursue cooperation at the presidential level while retaining its freedom to compete for legislative seats.
Ultimately, declarations of loyalty will matter less than the actual conduct of the campaigns.
The fundamental question is whether Soludo’s nationalist politics will strengthen Anambra without weakening the party that brought him to power.
For APGA, the challenge is to distinguish loyalty to its leader from loyalty to its political organisation. If the party cannot protect its candidates when its most influential figure aligns with a rival party, it risks undermining itself from within.
As 2027 approaches, the outcome will depend on whether Soludo’s appointment produces a mutually beneficial political alliance or gives the APC an advantage at APGA’s expense.
