Anambra Governor Soludo Welcomes Late Senator Ubah’s Supporters to APGA, Vows to Honor His Legacy
In a significant political development, Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, on Tuesday warmly received thousands of supporters of the late Senator Ifeanyi Ubah into the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA). The defectors, primarily from the All Progressives Congress (APC) and various support groups loyal to the late senator, pledged their commitment to work for Soludo’s re-election, citing his dedication to the progress of Anambra State as a key motivator.
Speaking at the event held in Awka, Governor Soludo expressed deep regret over Senator Ubah’s untimely death at the age of 52, revealing that the two had discussed plans for Ubah to support his re-election campaign shortly before his passing. Soludo promised to immortalize the late senator, potentially by naming a street or monument in his honor, to recognize his contributions to Anambra and beyond.
“I welcome you all to APGA, the true home for every Anambra person,” Soludo told the defectors. “This is where you belong, under the ideology that aligns with the aspirations of our state. In APGA, we are all equal, regardless of how long you’ve been with us.”
Reflecting on his personal connection with Ubah, Soludo recounted their long-standing relationship, which began during his tenure as Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria. He apologized posthumously to Ubah for his disqualification from the APGA governorship primaries in 2019, admitting that Ubah would likely have won the ticket. Soludo also shared his own experience of being disqualified by APGA in 2013, only to later become the party’s leader and governor.
“Before his death, Ifeanyi and I met at an event in this very hall,” Soludo recalled. “I jokingly told him we’d humiliate him if he ran for governor, but he laughed and said he’d spoken to his party leader and knew it would be tough to challenge me. He promised to arrange a meeting through Sir Emeka Offor to discuss how he could support my re-election. Sadly, that meeting never happened.”
Soludo praised Ubah’s generosity, citing his support for okada riders by providing free fuel at his filling stations. “Ifeanyi lived a short but purposeful life. We will ensure his legacy endures,” he said.
Leading the defectors, Chuks Kamen Ogbonna, a prominent figure in Ubah’s political family, urged APGA members to embrace the new members as partners in building a better Anambra. “We come not as strangers but as believers in progress, laying down the banner of opposition to join hands under APGA’s great umbrella,” Ogbonna declared.
Ogbonna commended Soludo’s governance, particularly his efforts in tackling insecurity in the Southeast by cracking down on fake native doctors, a model now being adopted by other states. He vowed that the group would work tirelessly to secure Soludo’s re-election in November to sustain his transformative achievements.
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