Some candidates of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Anambra State have expressed fears that Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s decision to coordinate President Bola Tinubu’s re-election campaign in the state could undermine their chances of winning legislative seats in the 2027 general elections.
The candidates, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Soludo’s alliance with the All Progressives Congress (APC) had created uncertainty within APGA, with concerns that dissatisfied voters might abandon the party’s candidates and support those of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
They also expressed fears that the governor’s decision could trigger protest votes against APGA candidates, particularly among supporters of former Anambra State governor and potential presidential contender, Peter Obi.
Soludo, who is the leader of APGA in Anambra, was inaugurated as the coordinator of Tinubu’s 2027 Presidential Campaign Council in the state on October 14, alongside Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, who was appointed to coordinate the President’s campaign in Osun.
The arrangement has reportedly generated discontent among some APGA candidates seeking seats in the Senate, House of Representatives and Anambra State House of Assembly.
It is understood that some of the candidates believe the political realignment could weaken APGA’s independent identity and create difficulties for them when campaigning for votes in a state where Obi enjoys considerable support.
A House of Representatives candidate in Awka, who spoke anonymously over fears of victimisation, said APGA candidates were unhappy with the governor’s decision, adding that the development had affected political activities across the state.
She expressed concern that voters might punish APGA candidates for Soludo’s support for Tinubu by voting for NDC candidates, whom she said could benefit from growing anti-Soludo sentiments.
She disclosed that campaign activities had slowed down because many candidates were uncertain about how to approach the political situation.
“Although the governor has convened a joint stakeholder meeting for APGA and the APC on Sunday to strategise ahead of the 2027 general elections, everything is currently at a standstill. Even campaigns have stopped because the candidates are confused,” she said.
The candidate accused Soludo of failing to consult party members before entering into the political arrangement, insisting that APGA candidates were now worried about the consequences of his decision.
“The governor, who is the leader of the party, never told us from the beginning that anything like this would happen. APGA candidates across Anambra State are not happy right now, and they will never forgive Soludo. Many of us cannot speak publicly now, but we are crying seriously. At the end of the election, if things do not work out well for us, there would be a revolution,” she added.
She further warned that even popular APGA candidates could lose their seats if voters decided to express their dissatisfaction with the governor through their votes.
“There’s a possibility that APGA candidates might all lose, even the good candidates among us. The voters are not happy that the governor is aligning with the APC while their own person, Peter Obi, is also on the ballot.
“The NDC wave in Anambra is becoming bigger, and anti-Soludo sentiments are fuelling it now. It is a worrisome development because some of these APGA candidates don’t have any problem with Peter Obi,” she said.
Similarly, a candidate for the Anambra State House of Assembly said the disagreement over Soludo’s appointment had deepened internal tensions within APGA.
He claimed that several party leaders, stakeholders and supporters were uncomfortable with the governor’s decision, which they believed could affect the electoral fortunes of candidates contesting legislative positions.
According to him, many APGA candidates feared that voters might cast sympathy votes for NDC candidates as a way of expressing their displeasure with Soludo’s support for the ruling party at the national level.
“Many rank-and-file APGA candidates contesting legislative seats feel threatened by the alignment. There is widespread concern at the grassroots level that voters might give sympathy votes to NDC candidates as an expression of their anger,” he said.
The candidate also questioned how APGA candidates would persuade voters to support Tinubu and the APC in the presidential election while voting for APGA in the legislative elections.
“How can market women or traders in rural areas be convinced to vote for the APC at the top and then APGA at the bottom? It doesn’t make sense to us. This might just give the NDC candidates the edge over us,” he added.
He further alleged that some APGA national leaders and stakeholders had protested the arrangement privately because they believed Soludo was compromising the party’s political identity by aligning with the APC.
“Some APGA national leaders, stakeholders and supporters have protested the arrangement, feeling that Soludo is sidelining or compromising APGA’s independent identity in favour of the ruling party at the centre, but they are not coming out publicly to do so,” he said.
However, the APGA Publicity Secretary in Anambra State, Ejimofor Opara, dismissed concerns that the governor’s decision would undermine the party’s candidates.
Opara said APGA was supporting Tinubu’s presidential ambition while remaining committed to winning the Senate, House of Representatives and state assembly elections in Anambra.
He maintained that the party’s candidates, supporters and voters had been informed about the arrangement, suggesting that there was no confusion over its political direction.
The concerns in Anambra come amid similar disagreements in Osun State, where some APC candidates have expressed dissatisfaction with Tinubu’s decision to appoint Governor Ademola Adeleke, who recently moved to the Accord Party, as the coordinator of his presidential campaign.
Some APC candidates in Osun reportedly believe Adeleke’s involvement could strengthen Accord candidates at their expense, while others have expressed concern that voters might become confused and vote for the APC in all three elections.
One APC House of Representatives candidate in Osun described Adeleke’s appointment as a major setback for the party’s legislative candidates, arguing that the governor’s position could boost the morale of Accord politicians.
“The fact that the President handed over his campaign to the governor is a huge minus for us because that has boosted the morale of the Accord candidates,” the candidate said.
He also questioned who would lead the APC’s legislative campaign in the state and provide the necessary support for its candidates.
However, the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs, Wole Oke, dismissed the suggestion that Adeleke’s appointment would undermine APC candidates, insisting that the party would still win the legislative elections.
Similarly, the Osun Accord National and State Assembly candidates’ chairman, Adewale Egbedun, expressed confidence that his party would secure all legislative seats in the state.
He declared that Accord was targeting a 38–0 victory, comprising three senatorial seats, nine House of Representatives seats and 26 state assembly seats.
Meanwhile, the 2027 presidential and National Assembly elections are scheduled for January 16, according to the timetable released by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
