In the forthcoming November 8 Anambra governorship election, Governor Charles Soludo has ruled out the All Progressives Congress’s chances, claiming the party does not have the grassroots support necessary to prevail in the state.
The statement was made by Soludo, who is running for reelection under the All Progressives Grand Alliance, in an appearance on Prime Time on Arise Television on Wednesday.
Abdullahi Ganduje, the National Chairman of the ruling APC, had declared on numerous occasions that the APC was targeting southern states controlled by the opposition, including Edo, Anambra, Osun, and Oyo states.
The APC ousted the PDP from Edo State in September of last year, and Ganduje stated that the same will happen in Anambra State in November of this year.
But in response to claims that the APC may use “federal might” to seize Anambra, as it purportedly did in other states, Soludo said it was incorrect to draw parallels with Edo, Imo, and Kogi.
“When you referenced Edo, Imo, and Kogi—that’s a bit off. In Imo, it was the incumbent APC that got re-elected. In Kogi, the incumbent APC also got re-elected. In Edo, the APC controls three Senate seats, several House of Representatives members, and many in the state House of Assembly. It was a competitive race between APC and PDP,” he said.
He added, “Now, come to Anambra. APC doesn’t even have a councillor—not one. In all previous elections, they’ve never been able to get any traction. Look at the last several general and local government elections—they scored just about 3–4% of the votes. You can’t put something on nothing.”
Despite his confidence, Soludo, however, emphasised that APGA would approach the election as underdogs.
“We’re not taking anything for granted. Every contest is a contest. There’s no wrestling match that’s a joke. We will contest like we’re the underdog. That’s the spirit,” he said.
Soludo voiced confidence in democratic institutions in response to concerns over federal meddling in the election.
“I have confidence in the institutions organising the election. I believe in INEC, in the President, and in the Federal Government. I believe they will uphold democracy and ensure a level playing field,” he stated.
Along with highlighting his accomplishments in infrastructure, healthcare, and education, Soludo also reiterated his dedication to governance.
“I remain focused on the mandate given to me by the people—improving security, driving economic growth, reducing the number of out-of-school children, and expanding our infrastructure. On healthcare, we are already national and regional champions in primary health,” he added.
