By PAMELA EBOH, Awka

The Anambra State Chaiman of the All the Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Emma Anosike, on Wednesday said that the party was never informed about the visit of Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, to the state.

He dismissed the Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s mantra of “Progressives Working Together” as a political smokescreen by the ruling All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) administration in the state to create the impression of cooperation with the APC while allegedly attempting to hijack the political goodwill and support surrounding President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration and his re-election bid.

Anosike said: “The development was particularly troubling because the APGA-led government did not engage the APC state chapter in the planning or organisation of the First Lady’s visit.

“For instance, the APGA-led government in Anambra State did not interface with us on the organisation of the visit, and the party wonders if the progressives are indeed working together.

“The visit of the First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, to Anambra was never communicated to the APC in the state.

“The party was taken aback upon learning that the wife of the party’s national leader, President and presidential candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, would be visiting the state without recourse to the state chapter of the party.

“The party wishes to state categorically that we are not part of the arrangements for the reception of our First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, because the party was never put in the picture,” he added.

While noting that the First Lady’s visit remained an important national and political engagement that should not be compromised by the disagreement, the state Chairman urged APC members, supporters and faithful across Anambra State to come out en masse to welcome Senator Oluremi Tinubu.