The All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Anambra State, Nicholas Ukachukwu, has stated that President Bola Tinubu is a loyal party man who would not support candidates outside the APC.
Ukachukwu made the remarks on Thursday during an interview on Channels Television’s “Politics Today” programme.
Taking a jab at Governor Chukwuma Soludo, Ukachukwu criticized the Anambra leader for allegedly banking on Tinubu’s support despite being a member of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).
“We know President Tinubu is not anti-party. He is a party man, won’t support another party aside from APC. He wants our party to win,” Ukachukwu said.
“How would a governor who has governed the state for almost four years be banking on another party leader’s support? Is it not laughable?”
Ukachukwu accused Soludo of playing double standards by attempting to align himself with “progressives” while maintaining his APGA affiliation.
“The only credibility he has is to say ‘progressives’ are working together, wearing a cap of APC and another one for his party, APGA,” he said.
The APC candidate further criticised Soludo’s performance, claiming that residents of Anambra are dissatisfied with his administration.
“The Anambra people should have been clapping for him for a job well done but the reverse is the case,” Ukachukwu added.
He also mocked the governor’s campaign rallies, claiming they were smaller than his own grassroots events.
“See the rally he’s doing. I can tell you that my community tour is bigger than his local government tour. That would show who people want and who they don’t want,” he said.
Governor Soludo, an APGA chieftain, met with Tinubu on August 12, where he pledged his support for the president’s 2027 re-election bid. After the meeting, Soludo said his friendship with Tinubu “spans over two decades” and “will not be broken by political differences.”
Ukachukwu later dismissed the visit, saying Soludo attempted to portray a “nonexistent endorsement.”
Okechukwu Modebe, spokesperson for the Ukachukwu/Ekwunife campaign team, described Soludo’s meeting with Tinubu as “the last kick of a dying horse,” calling it a desperate move to regain political relevance.
He added that “parading such meetings as endorsements insults the intelligence of Anambra voters.”
The Anambra governorship election is scheduled to hold on November 8, 2025.