The National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Sly Ezeokenwa, says Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo has delivered remarkable progress across Anambra State in just three years, transforming infrastructure, education, and healthcare while reducing insecurity “to near zero.”
Speaking in an interview on ARISE News on Friday, Ezeokenwa dismissed allegations of vote-buying and defended Soludo’s record, insisting that the governor’s achievements have inspired genuine grassroots support ahead of the next election.
“There are a couple of factors that make us confident about our victory in this election,” Ezeokenwa said. “Anambra is APGA land. From Mr Peter Obi to Chief Willie Obiano and now Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo, the state has witnessed an upward trajectory in development. The people have kept faith with APGA because of consistent performance.”
He described Soludo as “the greatest asset any political party could have at this time,” listing his achievements in education, health, infrastructure, and social welfare.
“We couldn’t have been any luckier having a man like Professor Soludo at this critical point in our nation’s history. Across all 326 wards, public health institutions have been revamped; there are new general hospitals, free maternal and postnatal care, and free education policies. In the past nine months, insecurity has been reduced to near zero,” he said.
Ezeokenwa argued that Soludo’s administration has sparked a rare wave of voluntary political enthusiasm.
“For the first time in Nigeria’s history, people are coming out to own the campaign of a political party. Communities are saying, ‘You don’t need to give us money — we’ll mobilise and campaign freely because you’ve delivered on your promises.’”
He said this grassroots mobilisation and Soludo’s record of performance were reflected in the last by-election, where APGA secured “about 99 percent victory across polling units.”
On the recent controversy over Governor Soludo’s remarks about rewarding loyal party members, Ezeokenwa rejected claims of vote inducement.
“What the governor said was an honest incentive to encourage voter turnout. Anambra has about 2.8 million registered voters, yet barely 300,000 vote. We cannot allow that voter apathy to continue. It’s not bribery — it’s motivation within party structures to increase participation,” he clarified.
Responding to criticisms that Soludo has failed to address security challenges, the APGA chairman dismissed such claims as politically motivated.
“It would be wrong to say the governor has failed on security. Do you recall that earlier this year he signed the Homeland Security Law, which set up the Udo Vigilante and Anambra State Community Guards? Those measures have largely stemmed the tide of insecurity,” he said.
Ezeokenwa maintained that the situation in Anambra has improved significantly compared to what Soludo inherited in 2021.
“Before Soludo came into office, no candidate could campaign freely in Anambra South. Today, every candidate — including those of the opposition — moves freely across all local governments. That tells you how far we’ve come in reclaiming those communities from criminal elements,” he said.
On the unresolved case of a governorship aspirant kidnapped before Soludo’s election, Ezeokenwa clarified that the incident occurred months before the governor took office.
“That kidnapping happened before Soludo assumed office. When he came in, his first battle was to reclaim communities in Anambra South that had been lost to insurgents. It took great effort and resources, but normal life has since returned to those areas,” he said.
Ezeokenwa concluded that APGA remains “upbeat and confident” about its electoral prospects, adding that Soludo’s administration stands as proof that competent leadership can deliver real development.
“Governor Soludo’s performance speaks for itself. Anambra is APGA, and APGA is Anambra. The people know what they’ve gained, and they’re ready to defend it at the polls,” he said.
Boluwatife Enome
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