Tinubu’s Anambra Visit: Govt Bans Party Uniforms to Prevent Political Posturing
In a surprising political move, the Anambra State Government has barred members of political parties and support groups from donning party uniforms during President Bola Tinubu’s official visit to the state today.
The directive, issued by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Political Matters, Dr. Alex Obiogbolu, comes amid growing tensions between rival political factions, particularly the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Anambra’s dominant political force.
While the visit is officially billed as a “working tour,” featuring a high-level town hall meeting and the commissioning of state-funded “legacy projects,” the State Government has made it clear: no political colors, no party logos just mufti.
“This is to inform you that everybody coming to Dr. Alex Ekwueme Square, Awka for the reception of President Bola Tinubu tomorrow should be in mufti,” Obiogbolu declared in a terse statement. “Please, nobody should put on APGA clothes or support group uniforms.”
Sources familiar with behind-the-scenes negotiations reveal the ban was more than a matter of protocol it was political necessity. With both APC and APGA allegedly mobilizing crowds to flood the event in branded attire, the scene was primed for a display of partisan showmanship that risked overshadowing the President’s agenda.
Critics argue that the ban highlights the deep undercurrents of political rivalry in the state, particularly as it comes during a heated pre-election period. Within APC circles, Tinubu’s visit was reportedly viewed with suspicion seen by some as an implicit endorsement of the APGA-led state government and a potential blow to their own gubernatorial candidate, Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu.
“This visit risked becoming a campaign spectacle for APGA,” said a political analyst in Awka. “The APC leadership was concerned it would look like the President was endorsing the opposition if they couldn’t control the optics.”
To douse the flames, the ban on political attire became a non-negotiable condition for the President’s attendance an effort, officials claim, to maintain neutrality and decorum. But observers say the move also serves to mask the rising political tension simmering just beneath the surface.
Despite the tightrope walk, the President is expected to commission several key projects, including the new State Government House and the ambitious Solution Fun City, projects touted by the Soludo administration as part of its transformative agenda.
Security has also been tightened ahead of the visit. The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps confirmed the deployment of 1,531 officers to secure key areas across the state, further underscoring the sensitivity surrounding the visit.
While the President’s trip is being framed as a moment of unity and progress, the realities on the ground suggest a carefully managed appearance, choreographed to avoid open confrontation and to keep deeper political frictions safely out of view.
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Tinubu’s Anambra Visit: Govt Bans Party Uniforms to Prevent Political Posturing