By BONIFACE AKARAH

Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo has described the political support expressed for President Bola Tinubu at the inauguration of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council as an unprecedented level of elite consensus in Nigeria’s democratic history.

Soludo made the observation in Abuja on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, during the inauguration, where he highlighted the participation of political stakeholders from different party backgrounds in support of Tinubu’s re-election bid.

In an account issued by the Media and Publicity Team of the Forum of Chief Executives of Federal Parastatals (FORCEPA), the governor said the gathering reflected a broad alignment around national unity, security and economic prosperity.

Soludo, who was elected on the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), said his party’s support for Tinubu was based on shared national interests rather than party affiliation alone.

He pointed to the participation of about 31 state governors, describing it as evidence of the breadth of political support at the event. However, the figure does not necessarily mean that every governor or Nigerian voter has formally endorsed Tinubu.

The former Central Bank of Nigeria governor also defended the economic direction of the Tinubu administration, describing its approach as *“pragmatic progressivism.”*

Drawing on his background as an economist, Soludo argued that the administration had taken difficult decisions to address longstanding structural weaknesses in the economy rather than defer necessary reforms.

According to the account of his remarks, he said the administration inherited significant economic pressures and had begun implementing policies aimed at stabilisation, recovery and sustainable growth.

Soludo also credited Tinubu’s understanding of public finance with shaping the administration’s reform agenda, arguing that its decisions should be assessed against the economic challenges confronting Nigeria.

However, the reforms have continued to attract criticism over the cost of living and concerns about how quickly their benefits are reaching ordinary Nigerians.

Despite those concerns, Soludo maintained that the administration’s policy direction offered a path towards addressing structural problems and creating the conditions for future growth.

His appearance at the APC campaign council inauguration is notable because he remains a member of APGA, underscoring the role of cross-party cooperation in the political calculations ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

FORCEPA’s Media and Publicity Team said Soludo’s remarks placed economic policy, public-sector performance and national development at the centre of the debate surrounding the coming election.