By News Maker in Abuja
Founder of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Chekwas Okorie, has called on Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, to end what he described as a longstanding political vendetta against former governor of the state and Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi.
Okorie, in a statement issued on October 1, 2026, accused Soludo of using his support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ahead of the 2027 presidential election as a cover for what he described as personal hostility towards Obi.
The APGA founder said Obi had continued to extend courtesies and respect to Soludo despite what he characterised as the governor’s repeated criticisms of the former Anambra governor.
According to Okorie, the roots of the strained relationship could be traced to a number of political encounters involving the two former Anambra governors.
He cited the 2010 Anambra governorship election, in which Obi, the incumbent governor and APGA candidate, defeated Soludo, who contested on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party. INEC figures reported at the time placed Obi first, Chris Ngige second and Soludo third.
Okorie also recalled Soludo’s disqualification from the 2013 APGA governorship contest. Contemporary reports confirmed that APGA’s screening and appeal panels upheld Soludo’s disqualification, although the party cited screening-related reasons rather than establishing any involvement by Obi.
The third episode identified by Okorie was the 2022 APGA senatorial primary in Anambra Central, where Victor Umeh lost the party’s ticket to Dozie Nwankwo before moving to the Labour Party, where he subsequently secured the senatorial ticket.
Okorie alleged that these political developments contributed to what he considers Soludo’s continuing opposition to Obi.
He also cited Soludo’s widely reported 2022 article, “History Beckons and I Will Not Remain Silent,” as an important point in the public disagreement between the two politicians.
Soludo has separately made clear that his support for Tinubu is political, with reports quoting him as saying that he has no apology for backing the President ahead of 2027. APGA has also adopted a position supporting Tinubu rather than fielding its own presidential candidate.
Meanwhile, Obi has emerged as the NDC presidential candidate for the 2027 election, with Rabiu Kwankwaso as his running mate.
Okorie urged Soludo to concentrate on the challenges confronting Anambra State and warned him to be mindful of what he called the “verdict of history.”
He concluded with a direct appeal to the governor: “Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, leave Mr. Peter Obi alone.”
