‘It Is Confirmed’: Senate’s Orji Uzor Kalu Hints at Anambra Governor Soludo’s Imminent APC Defection
By Mark Smith
In a bombshell political whisper that’s igniting Nigeria’s Southeast corridors, influential Senate leader Orji Uzor Kalu just dropped a not-so-subtle endorsement for Anambra Governor Charles Soludo’s rumored jump to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). “Soludo is a progressive like myself… He has no alternative than to come and join us. It’s confirmed,” Kalu declared, sending ripples through party lines just days before key re-election maneuvers.
The revelation came during a candid interview with journalists on Tuesday in Abuja, where Kalu, Chairman of the Senate Committee on the South East Development Commission (SEDC), painted Soludo as a natural fit among APC heavyweights like President Bola Tinubu, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, and governors from Imo, Ebonyi, and Enugu. This Soludo APC defection buzz has been simmering since Soludo’s rocky ties with his Labour Party (LP) roots, marked by policy clashes and whispers of marginalization in the opposition fold.
Soludo, a cerebral economist and former Central Bank of Nigeria governor, swept into Anambra’s top seat in 2022 on the LP ticket, vowing to transform the commercial hub into an economic powerhouse. Yet, his pragmatic governance—pushing infrastructure overhauls and security crackdowns—has drawn quiet applause from APC circles, even as LP infighting escalates. Kalu’s “confirmed” tag isn’t mere speculation; it’s a strategic nod amid the APC’s aggressive Southeast expansion, eyeing the 2026 governorship polls where Soludo seeks a second term.
Kalu didn’t stop there. He swatted down rumors of arm-twisting on Abia State Governor Alex Otti’s potential LP-to-APC switch, insisting, “Neither President Bola Tinubu nor any APC leader has pressured anyone to join the party.” Otti, another LP standout, has faced similar defection murmurs, but Kalu framed the APC’s growth as organic, fueled by Tinubu’s “reshaping” of Nigeria’s economy and security.
Analysts are dissecting Kalu’s words like a chess move. “This is Kalu playing kingmaker in the Southeast, leveraging his clout to consolidate APC dominance ahead of 2027,” says Dr. Ifeanyi Ugwu, a political scientist at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. He points to Soludo’s recent overtures—like praising Tinubu’s reforms—as breadcrumbs toward defection. On the flip side, LP loyalists decry it as “opportunistic poaching,” warning of voter backlash in a region still scarred by the 2023 election’s ethnic tensions.
Public reactions are firing up online and in beer parlors alike. X (formerly Twitter) lit up with #SoludoToAPC trending, amassing over 12,000 posts in 24 hours—fans hailing “progressive unity” while critics meme Kalu as the “defection whisperer.” A viral clip from the interview has racked up 150K views, with one user quipping, “From CBN to APC: Soludo’s plot twist we didn’t see coming!”
For everyday Nigerians—from Lagos traders to Enugu civil servants—this Soludo APC defection saga isn’t abstract drama; it’s a high-stakes pivot that could turbocharge Southeast development or deepen party fractures. An APC-aligned Soludo might unlock federal funding for Anambra’s $2 billion infrastructure backlog, easing youth unemployment at 42% and boosting trade hubs like Onitsha Market. Yet, it risks alienating LP’s youth base, the same Obi-mania crew that propelled Peter Obi’s 2023 surge, potentially splintering opposition votes and handing Tinubu a clearer 2027 path.
Kalu doubled down on presidential prospects, dubbing 2027 a “Tinubu vs. Tinubu” snoozer, crediting the president’s policies for steady gains in security and economic stabilization amid global headwinds. “The APC enjoys nationwide support,” he boasted, a bold claim as inflation hovers at 34% but naira reforms show glimmers of hope.
As whispers turn to roars, the Soludo APC defection watch is on—could this “confirmation” fast-track a powerhouse alliance, or fizzle into election-year posturing? With re-election looming, Anambra’s political chessboard just got a lot more crowded, promising fireworks that could redraw Nigeria’s power map for years.
Follow and subscribe to us for push notifications—stay ahead of the curve on Nigerian political defections and election buzz.