Politics
APGA Dismisses Obiano, Soludo’s Planned Defection To APC
The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has denied the alleged planned defection of the incumbent Governor of Anambra State, Willie Obiano, and the Governor-elect of the State, Chukwuma Soludo, to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The National Co-ordinator of APGA Media Warriors Forum, Chinedu Obigwe, who debunked the story on Monday at a press briefing in Awka, Anambra State, described the claim in some quarters as “a lie from the pit of hell.”
Shortly after the Anambra State November 6 governorship poll, rumours stated that Obiano and Soludo would join APC as one of the conditions given to them by powers that be to allow a free and fair poll in the state.
Obigwe at the Monday press briefing said, “It’s important to say it boldly that the battle Governor Obiano fought on November 6 was a battle for the survival of APGA as the only Igbo party in Nigeria. He fought that battle with all his heart and God gave him victory.
“There was never a time Governor Obiano promised anybody that if Soludo wins the election, both of them will join APC.
“Governor Obiano nurtured a good relationship with President Muhammadu Buhari administration for the betterment of Ndi Anambra. The President respects the fact that Obiano is the leader of APGA and accords him that respect.
“President Buhari did not lobby him to join APC because he knows very well that Governor Obiano will not accept to abandon APGA, a party that has Igbo interest at heart and defect to APC.”
Obigwe added, “The only thing Governor Obiano did that worked in favour of APGA in the November 6 governorship election is that he extracted a free and fair election commitment from President Buhari.
“The President promised him that the election would be free and fair without interference from the Presidency.
President Buhari fulfilled the promise and the resultant effect is that the November 6 governorship election is now being applauded by Nigerians and the international communities as the freest and fairest election conducted by INEC in recent times.”
“It’s childish propaganda for anybody to say that Governor Obiano promised to join APC with Soludo,” Obigwe stated.
The Commission disclosed the figure in its weekly update for week 14 of the second phase of the exercise, which ended on Friday, April 17, 2026.
According to the breakdown, 2,259,288 Nigerians completed their registration through the online pre-registration portal, while 1,489,416 finalized their registration physically at designated centres nationwide.
INEC noted that the figures remain preliminary and are subject to further verification and data cleaning processes to ensure accuracy ahead of the consolidation of the national voter register.
With the conclusion of the registration phase, the Commission has now shifted focus to the display of the Register of Voters for Claims and Objections, a statutory stage aimed at strengthening the credibility and integrity of the voters register.
The display exercise is scheduled to hold from April 29 to May 5, 2026, across designated centres nationwide, providing citizens the opportunity to verify their details and raise objections where necessary.
The Commission urged all registered voters from the concluded phase to take advantage of the exercise to confirm the accuracy of their information and assist in identifying ineligible entries, including duplicate registrations, deceased persons, and non-citizens.
INEC explained that the Continuous Voter Registration exercise is being conducted in phases, with the first phase running from August 18 to December 10, 2025, while the second phase commenced on January 5, 2026 and ended on April 17, 2026.
The Commission further stated that the date for the commencement of the third phase will be announced in due course.
Reaffirming its commitment to credible elections, INEC stressed that maintaining a clean and accurate voter register remains central to ensuring free, fair, and transparent electoral processes in Nigeria.
The Executive Director of IPC, Mr Lanre Arogundade, informed the journalists that the dialogue was sponsored by the European Union, under the auspices of the EU-Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EU-SDGN II), Component 4: Support to Media.
According to the veteran media practitioner, the programme is aimed at strengthening the capacity of the media to promote credible elections through factual, accurate and fair reporting.
He explained that the programme is part of a broader five-year intervention designed to support democratic governance and improve the role of the media in Nigeria’s electoral process, stressing that fact-checking and inclusive reporting are critical responsibilities for journalists, especially during electioneering.
He described the media as a central role agent with regard to upholding transparency and accountability in the democratic process.
A resource person and Director of Journalism Clinic, Lagos, Mr Taiwo Obe, enjoined journalists to embrace the evolving technology so that they would not be in the backwaters in the practice of the profession.
He advised journalists not to downplay Artificial Intelligence (AI) in their bid to remain relevant in the media environment by being abreast of the changing patterns of news consumption.
The journalism teacher explained that with digital transformation of the media industry, it had become imperative for journalists to constantly upgrade and update their skills, stressing the fundamental place of attitude and self-development and underscored the dynamic nature of media consumption in the digital age, thereby compelling journalists to embrace tools and platforms, but without much reliance on AI.
In his lecture, a Professor of Mass Communication at the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), Adebola Aderibigbe, advised journalists in Ekiti State to ensure that coverage of the upcoming governorship poll is issue-based rather than dwelling on personalities.
He added that sensationalism should not occupy the front-burner of any discussions concerning the 2026 election, admonishing that sustenance of democracy is anchored on responsible journalism.
”Journalists must prioritise accuracy, fairness and balance in their reports by verifying facts and giving all parties involved in political matters the opportunity to present their views”, he said.
According to the university don, the election will not be defined by personalities, but by issues. ”Let issues be the pivotal ring upon which every discussion should be made. Sensationalisation of issues should not be the bedrock of discussions in the 2026 election”, he added.
“Do not hear from Party A without hearing from Party B, otherwise the report will be skewed to one side and once issues of elections are skewed, problems will naturally arise”, he stressed.