2027: Soludo Signals APGA’s Readiness for Political Alliance
•Party grants amnesty to dissident members
Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja
Governor of Anambra State and national leader of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) , Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, has said that the party is open to an alliance with any of the political parties that truly professes progressive ideology.
Soludo who spoke at National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of APGA on Friday described APGA as the foremost progressive movement in Nigeria, said that having received the validation from the courts, the party is poised to reach for greater heights.
He called on other progressive- minded political parties in the country to join hands with the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) to move the country forward.
Soludo said “APGA remains ready to extend a hand of fellowship to any party that professes true progressive ideology in order to join hands to rebuild Nigeria”.
“For me, more than anything, it’s for us to say to the world that APGA is alive, APGA is strong, APGA is rising. That’s why we have come together to send that message today. APGA is alive, APGA is strong, APGA is rising.
“As the first political party in Nigeria registered as a progressive, the All Progressive Grand Alliance registered in 2002. Every other party that has progressive also in their name, they all came much, much, much, much later. We are the foremost.
“We believe in Nigeria, fairness, equity. We believe in true federalism. We believe in leaving no one behind.True progressivism. And that movement remains alive. That movement is strong.
“That movement will grow stronger. And we are poised more than ever now. Now that the Court has finally cleared all this noise and rumble here and there, that we can now also now run together,” he said.
He commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the appointment of a member of his party, Mrs. Bianca Ojukwu, into the federal cabinet as a Minister of State Foreign Affairs.
According to the Anambra state governor, President Tinubu was living out a truly government national unity in the country, adding that the commonness in name of his party All Progressive Grand Alliance and the All Progressives Congress was not a mere coincidence.
According to Soludo, APGA was poised to unite with other progressives parties to work for a progressive country.
He noted that APGA in years to come would continue to grow from strength to strength.
“Our party in years to come, we will continue to grow from strength to strength. APGA is built to last, Soludo said.
Speaking about performance of his administration in Anambra state, he said that the APGA -government is very intentional in all it’s drive for good governance.
He said that his administration wanted to use Anambra State as an example of what the ideology of progressivism is all about and it’s relationship with good governance.
Soludo commented on the prolonged leadership crisis in the party which recently rested via Supreme Court Judgement, saying that was a contrived one.
He hailed the judges for upholding justice and the prestige of the judiciary.
Similarly he commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for ensuring steady improvement in our electoral process.
While welcoming party leaders to the NEC meeting, National Chairman of the party, Barrister Sylvester Ezeokenwa said that APGA is transforming into new party with an agenda to infuse discipline and youth inclusiveness .
He formally announced that the party has granted amnesty to genuine members who worked on the wrong side when the party was enmeshed in crisis.
Ezeokenwa said the amnesty did not cover non card carrying individuals who paraded as members of the party during the crisis period.
Apart from the digitalisation of membership register, he said that the party has commenced setting up of skill acquisition centre through the newly inaugurated APGA Foundation.
In his remarks while breaking cola nuts Oye enjoined members of APGA especially those elected on the platform of the party to jettison the idea of decamping to other parties.
Present at the NEC meeting were the deputy governor, Bianca Ojukwu, 30 members of the NWC, the Senator representing Abia South Enyinnaya Abaribe, the House of Reps members including Hon Alex Mascot Ikwechegh, House of Assembly members and other party bigwigs from the states.
Among leaders of the party graced the event were Wife of the pioneer National Leader of APGA, and current Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Ojukwu, Former Minority leader in the National Assembly and Senator representing Abia North, Chief Enyinnaya Abaribe.and Deputy Governor of Anambra state, Onyekachukwu Ibezi.
