Soludo Taunts Obi After Anambra By-Elections: “Labour Party Is Dead, ADC Non-Existent”

Anambra State Governor, Professor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, has mocked the opposition, declaring that the Labour Party (LP) and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) are “dead” and “non-existent” in the state. Speaking on Sunday at a victory celebration in Nanka following the outcome of Saturday’s by-elections, the governor said the results had reaffirmed APGA’s dominance in the South-East state.

According to Soludo, the by-election was a political litmus test for the newly formed ADC coalition supported by former governor Peter Obi, but the people of Anambra rejected the alliance. “ADC does not exist in Anambra. We showed it yesterday. Labour Party is dead,” he said to the cheers of APGA loyalists clad in yellow and green, displaying the party’s iconic cock symbol.

The governor further stressed that the opposition underestimated the will of the electorate. “They wanted to use the election to test their concoction called ADC, but the people of Anambra spoke overwhelmingly with over 75% for APGA. This is our movement,” he asserted.

The By-Election Results: APGA Dominates

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared APGA candidates victorious across key constituencies. In the Anambra South Senatorial District, Emmanuel Nwachukwu of APGA clinched victory with 90,408 votes, defeating Azuka Okwuosa of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who secured 19,847 votes, while ADC’s Donald Amangbo managed only 2,889 votes. Nwachukwu’s win means he will replace Senator Ifeanyi Ubah, who died in July 2024.

Similarly, Ifeoma Azikiwe of APGA emerged victorious in the Onitsha North Constituency 1 by-election, further consolidating the party’s stronghold. Political analysts say the outcome underscores APGA’s ability to mobilize grassroots support despite attempts by the opposition to form a united front.

The defeats dealt a significant blow to Peter Obi’s influence in his home state. Soludo pointed out that Onitsha North, where APGA secured victory, is Obi’s own state constituency, suggesting that even the former presidential candidate could not sway the electorate in favour of his allies.

Obi’s Allied Force and ADC’s Test Case

Saturday’s by-elections were widely seen as an opportunity for the ADC coalition, buoyed by Obi’s support, to test its popularity in the state. Many opposition lawmakers, including senators and House of Representatives members, were reportedly active in the campaigns.

Soludo described the opposition turnout as a show of desperation. “It looked like an allied force—they all came. Senators came. Members of the House of Representatives came. They thought they were coming against APGA, but in reality, they were coming against the people. And the people rejected them,” the governor said.

The Anambra governor ridiculed the opposition’s strategy, arguing that their coalition lacked grassroots roots in the state. “The signal we sent was clear: both ADC and Labour Party are dead in Anambra,” he maintained.

Political Undertones Ahead of 2027 and 2025 Polls

The outcome of the by-elections comes at a time when Peter Obi and his allies are working to build a nationwide platform under the ADC coalition ahead of the 2027 presidential race. Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in 2023, has openly identified with the coalition as a potential alternative to the ruling APC and the PDP.

However, Soludo, a former Central Bank governor, has been one of Obi’s most vocal critics, dismissing his presidential ambitions and describing his one-term proposal as unrealistic. The by-election outcome, therefore, adds another chapter to their longstanding political rivalry.

For Soludo, the victory also carries immediate significance as he seeks re-election in the November 8, 2025, governorship poll. His celebration of APGA’s success is seen as a strategic boost to his campaign, reinforcing the party’s dominance ahead of a critical election.

Soludo’s Friendship with Tinubu and APGA’s Future

Beyond the by-election triumph, Soludo has recently come under scrutiny for his close relationship with President Bola Tinubu. Critics within the opposition have accused him of aligning APGA too closely with the ruling APC. But the governor has brushed off the criticism, saying he has “no apology” for his 20-year friendship with the president.

Political observers suggest that Soludo’s alignment with the centre may be part of his broader strategy to ensure federal support for his re-election bid and infrastructural projects in Anambra. For APGA supporters, Saturday’s victory was more than just a local triumph—it was a statement of resilience and relevance in Nigeria’s shifting political landscape.

With by-elections now behind them, the focus shifts to November, when Soludo and APGA will test whether the momentum from this emphatic victory can be sustained in the face of renewed opposition mobilisation.