The All Progressives Congress in Anambra State has kicked against the appointment of Governor Chukwuma Soludo as the coordinator of the APC Presidential Campaign Council (APC-PCC) in the state.

It said in a petition to the PCC Director-General, Abdul’aziz Yari, that the appointment of a member of another political party is a threat to APC’s chances in the forthcoming general election in the state.

The party consequently called on Yari to urgently reverse Soludo’s appointment and appoint a credible, committed and suitably qualified APC leader in the state as the governor’s replacement.

Governor Soludo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) is one of the two non-APC governors in the PCC. The other is Accord’s Ademola Adeleke of Oyo State.

In the petition dated October 13 and signed by the Secretary, Obi Okpala, the APC in Anambra questioned the rationale for overlooking the established leadership in the state and imposing a non-member on them.

The petition is titled, “Formal expression of opposition to the appointment of Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo as Anambra State coordinator of the PBAT Presidential Campaign Council: A call for urgent review.”

However, the state APC reaffirmed its desire and commitment to making sure that President Tinubu garnered over 80 per cent of the votes in the January 16 election.

part of the petition reads: “The leadership, stakeholders and members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Anambra State chapter in conjunction with Ikukuoma Campaign Organisation, wish to formally express our strong displeasure and unequivocal opposition to the appointment of Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo, an APGA governor, as the Anambra State coordinator of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Presidential Campaign Council for the 2027 General Elections.

“While we acknowledge the prerogative of the national leadership to constitute a campaign council capable of securing victory for His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, we respectfully but firmly maintain that the appointment of a serving governor who belongs to another political party to coordinate the president’s campaign in Anambra State is fundamentally misplaced and potentially detrimental to the electoral interests of the APC.

“Anambra APC has credible, experienced and committed leaders with the political capacity, grassroots reach and organisational experience to coordinate the presidential campaign effectively.

“We therefore question the rationale for overlooking the party’s established leadership in favour of a Governor whose political party has its own candidates, ambitions and competing interests in the forthcoming elections.”

The party maintained that entrusting Soludo with the coordination of the PCC raises legitimate concerns about a potential conflict of political interests, particularly where APC candidates will be contesting against APGA candidates for seats in the National and state House of Assembly.

It added: “We are equally concerned that the slogan “Progressives Are Working Together” is meant to hoodwink APC members while Governor Soludo uses the political synergy to win the legislative seats for its candidates.

“APGA candidates in Anambra State demarket Mr President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR and do not mention him in their campaigns to Anambra Voters.

“Governor Soludo only speaks on television to attract the attention of the National leadership of APC and Mr President to use the platform of this Coordination to win legislative seats for APGA National and State Assembly candidates.

“Our position is clear: APC Anambra will mobilise vigorously for President Tinubu and, at the same time, campaign decisively for its own candidates at all legislative levels.

“Our candidates for the three Senatorial Districts, eleven Federal Constituencies and thirty State Constituencies deserve the full support of their party. The national campaign leadership must recognise that the Presidential election is distinct from the National Assembly and State Assembly elections.

“Cooperation towards President Tinubu’s re-election must not be interpreted as an electoral alliance requiring APC members to support APGA candidates against APC candidates. FollowPolitics

“Any arrangement that places our members in such a contradictory position risks weakening party unity, undermining grassroots morale and eroding the APC’s political future in Anambra State.”

Meanwhile, the Tinubu Support Group (TSG) has marshalled out plans for rallies in the 95 councils in the Southeast for Tinubu’s reelection.

The rallies by the Sir Paul Chukwuma-led TSG will begin with the 21 councils in Anambra State in conjunction with the PCC.

Chukwuma, a one-time APC national auditor, is a member of the PCC, said: “We are going to tour all the local government areas in Anambra and the entire Southeast to tell our people why President Tinubu should be reelected in 2027. It’s not rocket science; the signs are all over the place in our zone.

“We’re on course and determined to return Mr President to Aso Rock.” (The Nation)