Anambra Governor Soludo Declares APGA Will Forgo 2027 Presidential Bid to Form Strategic Alliance with President Tinubu

Governor Soludo confirms APGA will not field a 2027 presidential candidate. Learn why the party is aligning with President Tinubu for a strategic South-East stake.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 21, 2026, 6:59 AM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from Politics Nigeria

A Strategic Pivot Toward Executive Alignment

Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State has officially signaled a major shift in the electoral strategy of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) ahead of the 2027 general elections. Speaking during a media chat following his second-term inauguration on March 21, 2026, Soludo confirmed that the party will abstain from contesting the presidency. Instead, APGA will align its political machinery with the incumbent, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The Governor framed this decision as a pragmatic move, asserting that the President has performed well enough to merit a second term and that APGA’s support is a calculated endorsement of current national leadership.

Historical Precedents for Consensus Politics

To justify the decision to members and critics alike, Soludo drew parallels to APGA’s past tactical maneuvers. He reminded stakeholders that the party has a history of opting out of the presidential race when a consensus candidate aligns with their regional interests. Specifically, he cited the 2011 election cycle, during which APGA declined to field a candidate and instead adopted then-President Goodluck Jonathan as its standard-bearer. By referencing this precedent, Soludo sought to demonstrate that the 2027 plan is not an abandonment of the party's identity, but rather a continuation of a long-standing tradition of flexible, interest-based alliances.

Prioritizing Regional Interests Over Protest Politics

The Governor emphasized that the decision is rooted in what he termed the "enlightened self-interest" of the South-East region. He argued that the residents of Anambra and the wider Igbo community are politically astute and will recognize the benefits of being part of a winning coalition. Soludo explicitly rejected the path of confrontational or "protest" politics, which he suggested has historically isolated the region from federal influence. By backing the incumbent early, the Governor aims to ensure that the South-East maintains a significant voice in the federal administration, rather than remaining on the periphery of the national power structure.