Anambra 2025: Soludo confident, says APC has no base

The All Progressives Grand Alliance candidate for the November 8 Anambra state governorship election, Governor Charles Soludo, has mocked the All Progressives Congress, saying it lacks the foundation to win in the state.

Soludo, speaking during an appearance on Arise Television’s Prime Time on Wednesday, also stated that APGA members would approach the election as though they were the underdog.

He stated, “Again, about the premise you set about federal might, I guess your premise needs to be interrogated a little, because when the premise is wrong, the conclusion becomes problematic.

“When you referenced Edo, Imo, and Kogi—that’s a bit off. In fact, you’re actually making my case: in Imo, it was the incumbent APC that got re-elected. In Kogi, the incumbent APC got re-elected. In Edo, APC holds three of the Senate seats, several members of the House of Representatives, and several members of the state House of Assembly. They went into that election with APC and PDP almost neck and neck—it was like a coin toss.

“Now, wind down to Anambra. In Anambra, APC doesn’t even have a councillor. Not even one. In all previous elections, they’ve never been able to get traction. Look at the last several elections—general elections and local government elections—not even 3–4% of the votes. You can’t put something on nothing, so to speak,.”

The governor expressed his faith in the Independent National Electoral Commission and voiced confidence that his party would emerge victorious.

He stated, “I am a democrat. I believe in democracy. We’re not taking anything for granted. Every contest is a contest. Even though, from what is on the ground now, any fair assessment would ask—”Who are you really contesting with?”

“But we’re not thinking that way. Every contest is a contest. There is no wrestling match that’s a joke. We will be contesting like we are the underdog when the time comes.

“And this scare about interference—except people don’t come out to vote, the people will vote.

“I have confidence in the institutions organizing the election. I have confidence in INEC, in the President, and in the federal government—that they understand democracy and will ensure a level playing field. Everyone will go to the field and do the work.

“So for me, even as we talk about elections and all that, like I told you, I am focused on the main task—delivering on the mandate the people gave me. On security, on the economy, on reducing the number of out-of-school children to the lowest in the country, on building upon our strengths in health, where we are national and regional champions in primary healthcare, and on the infrastructure revolution underway.”