Confusion trails Soludo’s backing for Tinubu’s re-election as president 

…APGA features presidential candidacy in election timetable
…Soludo insists APGA won’t field presidential candidate

Party stalwarts, aspirants and supporters of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) have been thrown into confusion following the approved and released of the provisional timetable/schedule of activities for the 2026 primary elections for the nomination of its candidates which included the presidency in the 2027 General elections by the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party.

Ejimofor Opara, National Publicity Secretary of the party, in a press release issued on Monday in Awka, Anambra State Capital, included the party expression of interest forms for President at N25 million and nomination for N50.million.

Others are Senate, N6million; House of Representatives, N4million; Governor, N10million and House of Assembly, N2million.

Recall that Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State and also leader of the party had declared support for President Tinubu’s second term, ruling out a Presidential Candidate for APGA.

Governor Soludo declared his support for the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 General elections, stating that he has no regrets about his position.

He made the remarks a month ago during a television interview in Awka, where he described the President as a friend and trusted ally and advised other Presidential hopefuls to reconsider their ambitions.

He also disclosed then that APGA would not field a Presidential candidate in 2027., saying: “Tinubu is my friend, and I want him to win a second term. I am unapologetic about that.”

The governor noted that the stance aligned with the party’s position in the 2023 elections, when APGA did not present a Presidential candidate but supported the All Progressives Congress (APC) flagbearer.

Governor Soludo had also maintained this stance days ago, warning the Igbos against “wasted votes” on Mr Peter Obi, his fellow Anambra man and a former governor of the state and Alhaji Abubakar Atiku.

The governor’s daughter was also championing the same course as his father; she is currently the leader of “City Boys” in the State, a group working for Tinubu’s reelection bid.

Ejimofor’s release was accompanied by a table showing date of election for the respective political offices showed date of purchase of expression of interest forms, nomination forms, the cost of the forms and date of primary elections.

The party stated that: “This in compliance with the revised INEC timetable and schedule of activities for the 2027 general election dated February 26, 2026, and pursuant to its powers under the APGA constitution 2019 and the Electoral Act 2026.

Details showed that purchase and return of expression of interest form was between April 20 and May 8, screening of prospective National Assembly aspirants  was on May 11, those of State House of Assembly is for May 12 and Governor, May 13.

The party had during its South East regional convention held in Awka on Saturday stated that the party would sell expression of interest forms separately to aspirants, who would be screened before determining their eligibility for the purchase of nomination forms.

It added that purchase and return of nomination forms begins on May 14 and ends on 21.

The party stated that its expression of interest forms would sell as follows: President, N25million; Senate, N6million; House of Representatives, N4million; Governor, N10million and House of Assembly, N2million.

Also the nomination forms would sell for; N50million, N15million, N12million, N25million and N6million respectively against the positions listed above.

The table showed that all primary elections would be held on May 23, within the wards of the localities of the aspirants, through option A4, while all primary election appeals would be sorted out on May 28, 2026.

However, the party stalwarts, aspirations and supporters, who spoke on condition of anonymity told the BusinessDay that they were confused on the directives to follow, “is it the governor or his aide”, they said.

“We are watching events as it folds, but the quicker clarification, the better”, one of them said.