APGA shuns Igbo Presidency, adopts Tinubu for 2027 election

President says Nigerians are one family, living in different rooms

By Jeremy Fregene

The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) founded in 2002 with the pursuit of an Igbo presidency as one of its key goals has officially adopted President Bola Tinubu as its candidate for the 2027 presidential elections.

Anambra State Governor, Prof.  Soludo, said yesterday in Akwa, that APGA and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) would work together, since both parties share a common belief in progressivism, to deliver Tinubu in 2027.

Speaking  at Alex Ekwueme Square in Awka during President Tinubu’s working visit to the state, Soludo assured the President of his support, as well as that of his party, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

Recalling that before joining APGA, the party had a policy of supporting the president and the ruling political party at the center, Soludo reaffirmed that this policy remains in effect.

“In 2011 before I joined APGA in 2013, APGA took an official position to support and work with the political party and government at the centre,” Soludo said. “Indeed, in that year, APGA adopted the sitting president then as its presidential candidate and I want to report that the policy by APGA has not changed.

The governor noted that both his party APGA and the All Progressives Congress (APC) profess progressivism and are working well together.

“Coincidentally Mr President, at this moment in history, the government at the centre is the one that also professes progressivism. Then as the foremost progressive party in Nigeria, APGA is strategically and ideologically aligned with the centre. And so far, Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, the progressives are working well together,” he said.

Soludo said that it is the time for all the progressives to unite to advance the purpose of a progressive and a united Nigeria.

…President preaches national unity

Speaking  at the event, President Tinubu, said Nigerians, despite ethnic and political differences, must work together for the betterment of the country.

“As your president, I’ve always said and I’m saying the same thing now, in our national anthem, we sing and praise our founding fathers that ‘Though tribe and tongue may differ, in brotherhood, we stand,’” he said.

“We will continue to be brothers, we are one family, a single family, diverse, living in the same house called Nigeria. We are only staying in different rooms. Our diversity must lead to prosperity, we must work together.”

President Tinubu admitted to taking tough decisions, including the removal of fuel subsidy among others, since he came to power.

But he said  “bold efforts” were required to “confront the wastefulness of the past” and “to lay a strong foundation for a more stable, prosperous, and inclusive economy.”

Tinubu said he is a “son of the soil” in Anambra and asked Soludo for a plot of land in the state for his retirement.

He commended the governor’s development strides and restated his commitment to partnering with state governments to develop South-East states.

As a mark of honour and appreciation for President Tinubu, traditional rulers in Anambra State bestowed the traditional title of “Dike si Mba,” which means “Hero from Another Land” on him.

The Chairman of the Anambra State Traditional Rulers Council, Igwe Chidubem Iweka (Ogalagidi, Eze Iweka III) conferred Tinubu with the title at the Dr Alex Ekwueme Square, Awka.