A founding member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former Director-General of the Voice of Nigeria (VON), Mr. Osita Okechukwu, has described the All Progressives Grand Alliance’s (APGA) recent endorsement of President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid as a revival of the historic “Zikist Alliance.”
Speaking to journalists in Enugu on Sunday, Okechukwu hailed Anambra State Governor Charles Soludo’s declaration of support for Tinubu as a “strategic masterstroke,” likening it to the political coalition led by Nigeria’s first president, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, in the 1950s.
“This is a renewal of the Zikist Alliance. Back then, Dr. Azikiwe was in the Western House of Assembly, and a Northerner, Malam Umaru Altine from Sokoto, was elected Mayor of Enugu. This unity in diversity is the Nigeria we must rebuild,” Okechukwu said.
During President Tinubu’s recent visit to Anambra, Governor Soludo said, “APGA has officially adopted President Tinubu,” pledging the party’s collaboration with the APC in the 2027 general elections based on their shared progressive ideals.
Okechukwu also referenced the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) and Nigerian Peoples Party (NPP) alliance of the Second Republic, insisting such coalitions were instrumental in fostering national cohesion and must be revisited in today’s polarised climate.
“I commend Governor Soludo. This aligns with the position I held as far back as 2003 when we supported the late Rt. Hon. Chuba Okadigbo as Buhari’s running mate. The Igbo nation must not politically isolate itself,” he stressed.
While opposing a one-party state, Okechukwu argued that APC does not require political dominance to win in 2027, but rather a focus on delivering Gross National Happiness.
“Nigeria is a multi-party democracy with over 10 active parties and diverse political tendencies.
“The fear of a one-party state is valid, especially due to the prevalence of ‘stomach infrastructure’ politics, but the electorate is wiser than ever,” he said.
Responding to concerns about mass defections to the APC, Okechukwu acknowledged that state governors wield significant influence but warned that the voting public should not be underestimated.
“The electorate is not locked in a dormitory. They won’t necessarily follow defectors blindly. In my over 40 years in politics, I’ve learned never to dismiss political shifts as mere noise,” he noted.
He concluded with a word of caution for APC’s leadership: “Let’s not get carried away by defections. A fierce and unpredictable campaign awaits us in 2027.”