The All Progressives Congress, South-East zone, has refuted claims that President Bola Tinubu endorsed the second term bid of Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Soludo, during the President’s recent visit to the state.

According to the South-East Vice Chairman of the APC, Dr Ijeomah Arodiogbu, Tinubu’s visit to the state doesn’t amount to Soludo’s endorsement, saying the party is fully prepared to contest and win the forthcoming governorship election in the state.

President Tinubu’s visit has sparked political speculation, particularly from members and supporters of the APC.

Following the visit, reports emerged suggesting that the President’s presence signalled an endorsement of Soludo’s leadership and possibly his second-term ambition.

However, Arodiogbu, in an interview with Saturday PUNCH, refuted the claim, saying, “President Tinubu did not endorse Soludo. He was in Anambra to launch projects, most of which were initiated by previous administrations. That narrative is not only inaccurate, it is politically dishonest.”

According to Arodiogbu, Soludo’s allies made unsuccessful efforts to secure Tinubu’s endorsement of the governor’s re-election bid.

“They begged the President to endorse Soludo, but he refused. The President, as leader of the APC, will not endorse a governorship candidate from the All Progressives Grand Alliance, especially when our party has viable candidates who are ready to serve.

“Soludo tried to spin the visit to his advantage, as if the President’s presence means he has federal backing for a second term. That is not the case. President Tinubu remains committed to the success of the APC in Anambra State and across Nigeria,” he stated.

The 2025 Anambra governorship election is expected to be fiercely contested, with the APC keen on expanding its foothold in the South-East, a region traditionally dominated by opposition parties.

The APC and other opposition parties are mobilising to displace APGA, which has been governing the state since 2006.

Arodiogbu expressed confidence that the APC was better positioned than ever to win in the state.

“The APC is ready for the election. We are working hard, we have grassroots presence, and we are speaking to the people. Anambra deserves to be aligned with the centre, and we are offering a credible alternative to Soludo’s APGA,” he stated.

He also criticised what he described as “theatrics and optics” deployed by the state government during the presidential visit, saying, “If the President’s endorsement is all Soludo has in his scorecard of four years’ service to the people, then he has failed.”