Chief Chekwas Okorie, founder of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), has accused Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, of using his support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as a platform to target former Anambra governor and 2027 presidential candidate, Peter Obi.
Okorie said Soludo’s recent political position in support of Tinubu should not be separated from what he described as the governor’s continued criticism of Obi.
The APGA founder made the allegation in a statement issued in Abuja on Thursday, where he expressed concern over what he described as Soludo’s persistent attacks on the former governor.
Soludo has publicly backed President Tinubu for another term, while Obi is preparing to contest the presidential election under the platform of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
Politics Nigeria had earlier reported Soludo’s appeal to people in the South-East to support Tinubu rather than Obi in the 2027 election.
Okorie, however, argued that Soludo’s support for Tinubu was being used as a cover for a deeper political disagreement with Obi.
“There have never been any altruistic motives behind the public posturing of Gov. Soludo to support President Tinubu for the 2027 presidential election. He is hiding under the cover of the so-called support for Tinubu to unleash his personal vendetta on Mr. Peter Obi,” Okorie said.
He further alleged that Obi had remained respectful towards Soludo despite the exchanges between both politicians.
“I have watched with disgust and utter disappointment, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo’s vicious and vile vendetta against Mr. Peter Obi.
“Mr. Peter Obi has not for a moment ceased to extend his usual courtesies and respect to Prof. Soludo at any given opportunity even as Prof. Soludo is on his vituperations on Obi,” he said.
Okorie linked the strained relationship between the two former Anambra governors to a series of political events dating back more than a decade.
According to him, one of the major points of disagreement came from the 2009 Anambra governorship election.
He recalled that Obi, who was seeking another term as governor, defeated Soludo, who contested the election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party.
“Peter Obi won the election resoundingly and beat Soludo to a distant third position. This is Peter Obi’s first ‘offense’ to Soludo,” Okorie said.
The APGA founder also referred to the party’s governorship primary in 2013.
He alleged that Soludo was disqualified from the APGA primary held in August that year when Chief Victor Umeh was leading the party.
Okorie claimed that Soludo had continued to blame Obi for the development.
He described the episode as another major source of disagreement between the two men.
The third issue highlighted by Okorie was the political development surrounding the 2023 general election.
He referred to the APGA senatorial primary for Anambra Central, where former APGA national chairman Victor Umeh lost the party’s ticket before later contesting the election on the platform of the Labour Party.
Umeh eventually won the senatorial election, with Obi’s popularity becoming an important part of the political atmosphere surrounding the contest.
Okorie presented the three events as the basis for what he described as Soludo’s long-standing opposition to Obi.
“The above three ‘offenses’ are the real reasons Prof. Chukwuma Soludo swore to bring down Mr. Peter Obi by any means possible,” he alleged.
The two men previously belonged to the same political family in APGA and both served as governors of Anambra State.
Obi governed the state before Soludo succeeded Willie Obiano in 2022.
Their relationship has changed significantly over the years, with Soludo becoming increasingly critical of Obi’s record in office and his presidential ambitions.
In 2022, Soludo published an article titled “History Beckons And I Will Not Remain Silent,” in which he questioned aspects of Obi’s administration and his presidential ambition.
In recent months, Soludo has openly promoted Tinubu’s re-election bid, while Obi has emerged as the presidential candidate of the NDC.
The opposing political positions have given the disagreement a wider national dimension beyond Anambra State.
Okorie also criticised the continued focus on Obi, urging Soludo to direct his attention towards the affairs of Anambra State.
He said the governor had enough issues within the state requiring his attention rather than concentrating on the former governor.
“There are several issues challenging the people of Anambra State that are sufficient to keep Prof. Soludo busy. Prof. Soludo should be mindful of the verdict of history.
“Prof. Chukwuma Soludo leave Mr. Peter Obi alone,” he said.
