…labels administration ‘pragmatic progressivism’
Anambra State Governor Professor Chukwuma Charles Soludo has described the broad multi-party backing for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid as an “unusual development” that reflects an unprecedented level of political and elite consensus in Nigeria’s democratic history.
Governor Soludo made the remarks on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, during the high-profile inauguration of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council in Abuja.
His observations were documented in an official report released on Thursday by the Media and Publicity Team of the Forum of Chief Executives of Federal Parastatals (FORCEPA).
Soludo, who won his governorship on the platform of the opposition All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), emphasised that his presence and APGA’s support for the APC President are anchored on shared national interests, specifically national unity, national security and economic prosperity.
Pointing to the attendance of approximately 31 state governors from various political parties, Soludo highlighted the gathering as evidence of an uncommonly broad political alignment.
The FORCEPA report clarified that Soludo’s observation regarded the visible elite support at the event rather than a formal endorsement from every individual governor or the entire Nigerian electorate.
However, analysts note his participation underscores an increasingly complex relationship between formal party affiliations and strategic political cooperation in contemporary Nigerian politics.
Soludo, who is also a former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), utilised his background as an economist to analyse and defend the economic philosophy driving the Tinubu administration.
He characterised the President’s approach to governance as “pragmatic progressivism,” asserting that the current leadership is willing to confront deep-seated structural challenges directly instead of postponing difficult choices.
According to him, the Tinubu administration inherited an economy under severe macroeconomic pressures.
He argued that the ongoing fiscal reforms are designed to transition West Africa’s largest economy from a state of instability toward sustainable recovery and future growth.
Crediting President Tinubu’s foundational understanding of public finance, Soludo urged observers to assess current economic decisions against the backdrop of the severe structural crises gripping Nigeria prior to the administration taking office.
While administration loyalists view these macroeconomic adjustments and structural reform initiatives as crucial steps forward, critics continue to question the slow pace at which the tangible benefits of these policies are reaching everyday citizens.
Nevertheless, Soludo maintained that the administration’s aggressive policy direction is vital for laying a durable foundation for long-term national growth.
The FORCEPA Media Team noted that Soludo’s high-level intervention successfully places institutional performance and economic policy at the very centre of the upcoming 2027 presidential election discourse.
As a unified body of federal parastatal leaders, FORCEPA emphasised the critical role public institutions play in executing these federal policies, documenting development progress, and ensuring transparent public-sector data remains accessible to all Nigerians.
