Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), is set to visit Anambra State on Thursday, December 12, 2024, as part of the party’s preparations for the 2025 governorship election in the state. During his visit, Ganduje will inaugurate the newly acquired APC State Secretariat, located opposite the Government House in Awka. The visit also includes a meeting with key political figures, including the Obi of Onitsha, Alfred Achebe, amidst ongoing tensions between the monarch and the state governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo.
The strained relationship between Achebe and Soludo stems from the governor’s controversial dissolution of the state’s Traditional Rulers Council, which had been chaired by the Obi of Onitsha. Achebe has been critical of Soludo’s handling of security issues in the state and his alleged marginalization of traditional institutions. This fallout has reportedly led to Soludo’s absence from the 2024 Ofala Festival, a major cultural event for the Onitsha monarchy.
The newly established APC state secretariat was acquired by Sir Paul Chukwuma, one of the leading contenders for the APC’s governorship ticket. The visit, confirmed by APC State Chairman Sir Basil Ejidike and Secretary Chico Obi, will be a one-day event aimed at strengthening the party’s presence in the state as it prepares for the 2025 election.
Despite internal dissatisfaction among some APC members over the federal government’s appointments of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) members to key positions, there is a clear resolve among core APC members to focus on reinforcing the party’s structure and influence in Anambra. The party’s efforts in the coming months will be crucial as they work towards gaining ground in the state’s political landscape ahead of the election.
