Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State has opened up about his political evolution, revealing that it took him a full year to make the decision to join the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) back in 2013.
Speaking to a crowd of 15,000 new APGA members who defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Wednesday in Awka, Soludo recounted the pivotal moments in his political life.
He recalled that his initial foray into politics was with the PDP, where he served as the party’s candidate in the 2010 Anambra governorship race.
He acknowledged his work with many of the defectors, many of whom had been his colleagues during that time.
“I was a member of the PDP and ran under their banner in the 2010 election,” Soludo said. “But it took me a year to make the difficult decision to join APGA. When I joined, I was disqualified as a governorship candidate, but I persevered, believing that APGA was my last bus stop.”
Soludo’s resolve paid off when he eventually became the governor of Anambra and the national leader of APGA.
He proudly described APGA as the “first progressive party in Nigeria,” founded in 2002.
According to him, the party is more than just a political organization—it is a movement that promises equality and inclusivity for the people of Anambra.
The governor urged the new APGA members to finalize their membership by registering at the ward level and become active participants in the party’s cooperative programs aimed at empowering the people.
READ ALSO: APGA Open to Alliance with Progressive Political Parties — Soludo
The State Chairman of APGA, Ifeatu Obi-Okoye, formally welcomed the defectors, praising the governor’s leadership, which has successfully attracted members from other political parties to APGA.
Obi-Okoye emphasized that the influx of new members was a testament to Soludo’s effective governance.
Chukwudi Umeaba, the former chairman of the PDP in Anambra, addressed the crowd on behalf of the defectors, explaining their reasons for joining APGA. “We are collapsing PDP into APGA because we believe in the governor’s vision for the development of Anambra. We want to support his people-oriented policies and initiatives,” Umeaba stated.
As Soludo’s leadership continues to gain traction, his unwavering dedication to improving Anambra has solidified his position as a key figure in the state’s political landscape.
The large-scale defection is seen as a powerful endorsement of his governance and APGA’s growing influence.