APGA chieftain faults IPOB over Soludo confrontation

In London on Tuesday, a chieftain of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Chinedu Obigwe, criticised a group said to be linked to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) for confronting Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo during a town hall meeting with indigenes in the diaspora.

The incident happened during an engagement organised by the governor to interact with Anambra residents abroad and discuss activities of his administration as he begins a new term in office.

The group reportedly challenged the governor over the continued detention of Nnamdi Kanu and also accused him of being linked to insecurity in the state.

Reacting to the development, Obigwe dismissed the claims and said the confrontation was based on wrong information about the governor’s actions.

He explained that since assuming office, Soludo had taken steps aimed at restoring peace in Anambra, including engaging individuals involved in violence and offering them a chance to surrender and return to normal life. According to him, those who accepted the offer were reintegrated, while some detainees were granted bail as part of efforts to reduce tension in the state.

He also stated that the governor had previously met with Kanu in custody and had openly rejected activities such as the sit-at-home order, as well as killings and abductions in the South-East. Despite these moves, he said some groups continued actions that disrupted normal life, forcing many residents to flee their communities and affecting economic activities.

Obigwe added that the worsening security situation led to the launch of a joint security operation designed to tackle violence and restore order across affected areas. He, however, accused some individuals outside the country of misrepresenting the situation and opposing efforts to stabilise the state.

He further argued that recent improvements in security had encouraged public gatherings and cultural events in Anambra, showing a return to normal life. He maintained that those who confronted the governor in London should visit the state to assess the situation themselves rather than rely on distant claims.

The development has added to ongoing debates around security and political tensions in the South-East, especially concerning the activities of separatist groups and the response of state authorities.