Anambra Guber: Soludo, 15 others battle for power
• 2.8 million voters to decide next governor
All is set for the Anambra State governorship election taking place on Saturday, November 8, with 16 candidates vying for the state’s top seat, including the incumbent governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).
Among the major contenders are Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. George Moghalu of the Labour Party (LP), Mr. Paul Chukwuma of the Young Progressives Party (YPP), Mr. John Nwosu of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), and Chukwududem Nweke of the Action Peoples Party (APP).
Other contestants include Oti Echezona (APM), Chioma Ifemeludike (AAC), Jeff Nweke (AA), Charles Onyeze (Accord), Geoff Onyejegbu (NNPP), Jude Ezenwafor (PDP), Jerry Okeke (Boot Party), Ndidi Olieh (NRM), Martin Ugwoji (ZLP), and Vincent Chukwurah (SDP).
Although 16 parties are fielding candidates, political analysts believe only a handful are considered strong contenders, led by Soludo, Ukachukwu, Moghalu, Nwosu, Chukwuma, and Nweke.
However, Anambra’s zoning arrangement—an informal but long-standing power-sharing understanding among the three senatorial zones—appears to limit the chances of some aspirants from outside the Anambra South Zone, which traditionally holds the turn for this election cycle.
Governor Soludo, who hails from the South, enjoys the advantage of incumbency and APGA’s deep grassroots structure in the state. While some voters commend his administration’s development strides, others fault him over insecurity and unfulfilled promises.
According to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), 2,802,790 registered voters are eligible to cast their ballots on Saturday.
INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, speaking at a stakeholders’ meeting in Awka, assured political parties and voters of the commission’s readiness.
“With a register of 2,802,790 eligible voters, Anambra has the numbers to shape its own destiny,” he said. “Democracy only thrives when citizens actively choose their leaders. I therefore urge every person in Anambra to come out and exercise their civic right without fear or favour.”
He revealed that after an extension of the Permanent Voter Card (PVC) collection period, the state recorded a 98.8% collection rate, one of the highest in the country.
INEC confirmed that all logistics had been concluded, and uncollected PVCs would be stored securely with the Central Bank of Nigeria until after the polls.
The Anambra State Police Command also assured residents of adequate security. Commissioner of Police Abayomi Shogunle, through spokesperson Tochukwu Ikenga, said security agencies were fully prepared to ensure a peaceful and credible election.
