The National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Sly Ezeokenwa, has announced that the party will not present a presidential candidate in 2027, adhering to the party’s tradition and demonstrating its unwavering support for the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
He refuted claims made by certain opposition politicians suggesting that Prof. Charles Soludo’s visit to the president was merely a strategy to seek reciprocal support for the upcoming gubernatorial election in Anambra State on November 8.
Ezeokenwa shared these insights during a press conference held in Abuja on Wednesday, expressing disappointment that members of the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) in Anambra State exploited the recent by-election to create unrest and propagate false narratives regarding the Soludo administration.
He remarked: “I would like to start by emphasizing that this press conference has been prompted by the ongoing spread of falsehoods, intentional misinformation, and unfounded allegations being disseminated in the media by supporters and associates of the APC Senatorial candidate for the recently held Anambra South Senatorial by-election, Mr. Azuka Okwuosa.
“This also includes Mr. Nicholas Ukachukwu, the APC Governorship candidate for the Anambra Gubernatorial election scheduled for November 8, 2025, who, despite his notorious involvement in attempts to undermine the people’s will during that election, along with numerous electoral violations he committed, has positioned himself as the primary source of misinformation, all in an effort to tarnish the commendable work of INEC officials and security agencies in upholding the integrity of the by-election.”
The APGA national chairman stated that under normal circumstances, the party would have dismissed these unfounded claims lightly and concentrated on its governance focused on the welfare of the people in Anambra State. However, he noted that it was essential to address the baseless allegations and clear up any misrepresentations to ensure the truth is known.
“This Press Conference is intended exclusively to present a factual counter-narrative and to ensure that the truth is preserved for future generations,” he remarked, emphasizing that the by-election held on August 16 has been recognized as a pivotal moment in the pursuit of transparent and credible elections within the nation.
“The successful execution of the by-elections has once again established the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as a vital component of our democracy and has further illustrated the institution’s dedication to maintaining democratic values and reflecting the will of the Nigerian populace,” he claimed.
He argued that Governor Soludo’s endorsement, and consequently, APGA’s choice to support President Tinubu’s re-election, does not arise from a quid pro quo arrangement, but rather stems from tradition and signifies the mutual understanding shared between the President and the Governor.
While disclosing that he was not involved in the conversations between Soludo and President Tinubu during the former’s visit, the APGA leader insisted that the Anambra chief executive has consistently advocated for progressives to unite and collaborate.
Clarifying Soludo’s endorsement of Tinubu, Ezeokenwa stated that the Anambra governor has openly expressed his respect for the bravery that Mr. President has shown in implementing essential and significant economic reforms, particularly from the outset when the president eliminated the subsidy.”
His statement: “Thus, these and numerous other matters are, in my view, what I consider essential when discussing the connection between our party and the President’s party.
“Furthermore, this appeal, in my opinion, is rooted in ideology, as we cannot persist in allowing the emergence of political parties that espouse similar ideologies when these parties could potentially unite in either a robust partnership or a loose coalition, particularly when the ultimate aim is to promote progressive ideals or progressivism, which we advocate.
“APGA, as a political entity, stands as the leading progressive party in Nigeria. Since 1999 to the present day, under the current administration, we were the first to be registered with the term ‘progressive.’ Naturally, this was prior to the emergence of the All Progressive Congress, the Young Progressive Party, and various other progressive entities.
“Governor Soludo asserts that the foundation of any political party must be the ideologies that the party upholds. If you examine the manifestos of most of these political parties, you will find that they are nearly identical. You are either positioned to the left of the center or to the right of the center. It is that straightforward.”
