APGA HAS REMAINED, AS IT OFTEN IS TODAY, A ONE-STATE PARTY IN TERMS OF INFLUENCE. WE DID IT TO BE SO, MYSELF AND MR. PETER OBI -SEN VICTOR UMEH . (PHOTO).

 APGA has remained, as it often is today, a one-state party in terms of influence. We did it to be so, myself and Mr. Peter Obi -Sen Victor Umeh 

‎In an interview with Daily Independent on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, Senator Victor Umeh, representing Anambra Central, has explained how the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) became largely limited to Anambra State in terms of political influence.

‎He said the situation did not happen by accident but was a result of deliberate political strategy taken many years ago.

‎Umeh said APGA was built with a clear focus on Anambra State, according to him, the party’s strength and structure were intentionally concentrated in the state to secure power and stability

‎He explained that both he and former Anambra State governor, Peter Obi, played key roles in shaping the party in that direction.

‎He noted that APGA grew into a dominant political force in Anambra because its leaders invested their energy and resources there, the party focused on winning elections in the state and maintaining control of government and this approach, he said, helped APGA to survive and remain relevant over the years.

‎Umeh explained that while the strategy worked well at the state level, it limited the party’s national spread, he said APGA did not expand strongly into other states and did not build the kind of nationwide structure needed to compete for federal power, as a result, its influence remained narrow.

‎He added that Peter Obi’s time as governor under APGA showed that the party could deliver good governance within its stronghold.

‎According to him, Obi performed well during his years in office, which further strengthened APGA’s image in Anambra State, however, this success did not translate into wider national acceptance for the party.

‎He explained that APGA’s one-state nature made it difficult for ambitious politicians to pursue national roles from within the party, this reality, he said, influenced later political decisions by key figures.

‎"You know, APGA has remained, as it often is today, a one-state party in terms of influence, Anambra State. We did it to be so, myself and Mr. Peter Obi," he said.