In a candid revelation on Wednesday, Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State shared that his decision to join the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in 2013 was not made hastily—it took him a full year of careful consideration. His remarks came during a significant event in Awka, where he formally welcomed 15,000 members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who had defected to APGA.
Governor Soludo recounted his political beginnings, noting his initial affiliation with the PDP, where he had served as the party’s candidate in the 2010 Anambra governorship election. Reflecting on the challenging journey, he stated, “It took me one year to take the decision to join APGA in 2013. When I joined, they disqualified me as the governorship candidate, but I persisted because I knew it was my last bus stop.” His persistence ultimately led to his current role as both the governor and the national leader of APGA, a party he described as more than just a political organization. “APGA is the first progressive party in Nigeria, established in 2002. It is not just a political party but a movement in Anambra, where everybody is equal and no one is left behind,” he affirmed.
The governor urged the newly defected members to complete their registration at the ward level and become active participants in APGA’s cooperative initiative, which aims to empower party members economically and socially.
Mr. Ifeatu Obi-Okoye, the state chairman of APGA, also spoke at the event, formally welcoming the new members. He lauded Governor Soludo’s leadership, which has attracted a growing number of individuals from other political parties, including the PDP, to join APGA.
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On behalf of the defecting PDP members, Chukwudi Umeaba, the former state chairman of the party, explained that their decision to switch allegiance was largely driven by Governor Soludo’s progressive policies and commitment to the welfare of the people. “We decided to collapse PDP into APGA to join the winning team. Our goal is to support the governor in fulfilling his agenda for the development of Anambra,” Umeaba emphasized.
The recent surge in new members significantly bolsters Governor Soludo’s influence within the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), highlighting the party’s growing presence and strengthened support ahead of the upcoming Anambra governorship election in November. In a notable development, Soludo secured his position as the party’s candidate unopposed during the primary held on Saturday, April 5.
