Anambra APC Cries Foul: Soludo Plotting to Rig Elections, Intimidate Voters
Anambra State APC
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Anambra State has formally petitioned President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Inspector General of Police, and other relevant security agencies, alleging that Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo is using the instruments of state power to intimidate voters and manipulate the electoral process ahead of the forthcoming elections in the state.
In a statement released by the APC Elders Forum, chaired by Chief Bunty Onuigbo, the party accused Governor Soludo of abusing his office by deploying coercive tactics and engaging in undemocratic practices aimed at rigging both the August 16th Anambra South Senatorial District by-election and the November 8th gubernatorial election.
According to the Forum, Governor Soludo has exhibited a glaring lack of political sportsmanship, consistently resorting to derogatory and divisive rhetoric against candidates of other political parties.
The statement condemned what it described as “a pattern of unguarded, unstatesmanlike utterances” made by the governor since the flag-off of campaign activities.
“The attention of the APC Elders Forum has been drawn to a series of disparaging remarks made by Governor Charles Soludo, the APGA gubernatorial candidate, against not only our party’s candidate but also other contestants in the November 8th election,”
“In public remarks, Governor Soludo reportedly referred to fellow aspirants as ‘illiterates,’ ‘pedestrians,’ and ‘street urchins,’ while arrogantly portraying himself as the only viable candidate in the race. Such statements are not only unbecoming of a sitting governor but also represent a serious violation of the spirit of free, fair, and issue-based democratic competition.”the Forum stated.
The APC further criticized Soludo for what it described as a deliberate shift away from policy-driven discourse to personal attacks, thereby undermining the essence of democratic governance.
“It is expected that electioneering campaigns should focus on substantive issues such as economic development, security, and governance. Instead, the governor has chosen to descend into the arena of petty insults and inflammatory language. This behavior is regrettable and beneath the dignity of a public office holder who also bears the academic title of Professor,” the statement noted.
The APC Elders Forum also raised alarm over what they termed the “militarization” of the state’s political environment through the deployment of the Agunechemba Security Outfit , a security initiative ostensibly introduced to address insecurity in the state but which the APC alleges has now become a tool for political intimidation.
“Rather than deploying the Agunechemba outfit to combat crime and ensure the safety of lives and property, the Soludo administration has weaponized the unit against political opponents. This amounts to an abdication of his constitutional duty as the Chief Security Officer of Anambra State,” the Forum claimed.
The statement further decried what it described as “economic asphyxiation” of the populace through multiple taxation and arbitrary levies, alleging that these acts are part of a broader strategy to suppress dissent and weaken the opposition.
“The APGA-led government has imposed an unbearable taxation regime on the people, creating economic hardship for law-abiding citizens, all under the guise of revenue generation. These oppressive measures, we believe, are designed to subdue the electorate and rig the outcome of the upcoming elections,” the Forum alleged.
The APC Elders Forum also called on national authorities to intervene and ensure a level playing field.
“We hereby urge President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Inspector General of Police, the Director-General of the Department of State Services, and the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission to call Governor Soludo to order. He must be made to respect the rule of law, adhere to democratic norms, and conduct himself in a manner befitting the office he occupies,” the statement added.
