Race for Anambra governorship heats up as parties hold primaries

Ahead of the November 8, 2025 governorship election, the political terrain is currently turbo-charged as four political parties are faced with the huge responsibility of electing who becomes their candidate on Saturday, April 5. IKENNA OBIANERI writes on the expectations of the aspirants, the preparations of the political parties, and how the delegates will swing loyalty

The political ground and climate in Anambra State will be battle royale and tension-soaked this weekend as expectations is high for the all important primaries of the political parties fielding candidate for the November 8, 2025 governorship election in the state. Conducting party primaries has not always being a “tea party” anywhere in Nigeria as the process always comes with clash of interests, intrigues and conspiracies which expectedly fuel a rancorous exercise.

About 11 aspirants from major political parties, including the All Progressives Congress, Peoples Democratic Party, and Labour Party, will be vying for their respective party’s ticket on Saturday, April 5, to challenge the incumbent Governor Chukwuma Soludo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance.

And as the November 8, 2025 governorship election in the state draws nearer by the day, the tensions ignited by the forthcoming party primary elections has further highlighted the importance of this exercise to the general elections, demonstrating the fact that party primaries are essential in democratic elections, providing a platform for parties to select their candidates, increasing voter engagement, and promoting party unity and accountability.

It can take different formats such as the closed primary whereby only registered delegate and major party members can participate. Then the open primary where all registered voters, regardless of affiliations, can participate. Semi-closed primary where registered party members and unaffiliated voters can participate. The political parties are at liberty to choose any of these systems it deemed fit.

Since March 20 that the Independent National Electoral Commission declared proceedings for the Anambra elections open, aspirants of various political parties have not left any stone unturned, as they have continued to strategise and increasing voter engagement at the grassroots and encouraging voter participation of their various party delegates to shape their party’s direction.

Recalled that INEC had directed political parties to commence their primaries for the 2025 Anambra State governorship election on March 20, 2025, with the process expected to end by April 10, 2025.

The INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, who disclosed this in a statement on March 6, reminded political parties of the importance of adhering to the election timetable, adding that the governorship election remains scheduled for November 8, 2025.

According to INEC, 12 out of the 19 registered political parties in the country submitted their schedules for the primaries. The commission stressed that early submission allows for proper monitoring in line with Section 84 of the Electoral Act 2022.

“The public may recall that in line with the provision of Section 28(1) of the Electoral Act 2022, the Commission published the Notice of Election on November 13, 2024, over 360 days before the date fixed for the election.

“By the provision of the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the election, the conduct of primaries for the nomination of candidates by political parties will commence on March 20, 2025, and ends on April 10, 2025,” Olumekun stated.

In line with INEC’s directives and guidelines, four political parties fielding candidates for the election have scheduled their respective primaries for Saturday, April 5, further heating up the polity across the state on the day. The indication is that Anambra will bubble with political activities and all eyes will be on the state on Saturday.

Although, INEC had declared that 12 out of the 19 political parties in Nigeria will participate in the November 8 governorship election in Anambra. But as it is, the APC, PDP, LP, and APGA are the only parties with confirmed aspirants for the race. The PDP, which initially saw no aspirants for the governorship ticket, now has two candidates who emerged after an extension of the deadline for form submissions.

While the APGA has already settled on Governor Soludo as its candidate for the upcoming election, the APC, PDP, and LP are set to conduct their primaries this Saturday to select their flagbearers. Although, APGA, the ruling party, also fixed it’s primaries for Saturday, no upset is expected to be recorded at its ground as for them, this exercise is a mere formality as they have already settled on their candidate, who is the incumbent governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo. Therefore, their primaries is just going in accordance with the INEC laws that says political party must hold primaries.

APGA, which is backing Soludo for re-election, sold its nomination form for N30m and Soludo remains the sole candidate for the party.

Soludo, on his part, has consistently ruled out any serious opponent or opposition to his reelection, insisting that he has not seen any serious challenger for the November 8 election, adding, “There is a general agreement among Anambra people that my party, the APGA, has delivered good governance and deserves another term.” He noted, “While Anambra voters may back different parties in national elections, they remain loyal to APGA when it comes to governorship and local government polls.

“If there is an election, I mean there will be an election, and if I am a candidate, I will be on the ballot, and then I ask: who else is running Which party is fielding a candidate? So far, unless the person will come down from somewhere, I have not heard of any.”

Speaking in a telephone interview with our correspondent, the APGA’s National Publicity Secretary, Mazi Ejimofor Opara, explained that Soludo was granted an automatic ticket due to his stellar performance during his first term.

Opara further confirmed that no other aspirants came forward, citing broad support for Soludo, even among opposition figures.

“In fact, the National Working Committee has given the governor an automatic ticket for his sterling performance in the first term, surpassing that of any other governors within same term limit. No other contestant stepped forward to purchase the APGA nomination form because people have seen that the governor has certainly performed so well that even members of the opposition are openly endorsing him for a second term in office.

“On Saturday, April 5, we shall formalise the credible democratic nomination process of Prof. Chukwuma Soludo for a well-deserved second term on the platform of the foremost Progressives party in Nigeria, APGA.”

As the stage is set for a pivotal moment in the state’s political history this weekend, the APC has seen a surge of interest, with seven aspirants purchasing the party’s N50m forms. These aspirants include Prof. Obiora Okonkwo, Nicholas Ukachukwu, Chukuma Umeoji, Paul Chukwuma, Onunkwo Johnbosco Obinna, Valentine Ozigbo, and Edozie Madu.

The LP has also attracted interest, with George Moghalu and John Nwosu as the two contenders who bought the N30m forms. The Labour Party has expressed confidence in conducting a free and fair primary, expecting unity among the candidates after the primaries.

From all indications, the political landscape across the parties is varied, with the APGA having a settled candidate, the PDP and the LP having two aspirants each which is a relatively straightforward task.

While the APC faces a more daunting challenge with seven heavyweight aspirants vying for the party’s ticket. It is essential to emphasise the importance of credible and transparent processes, free from rancour as anything other than this will definitely make or mar the party chances at the general elections. What happens on the APC ground on Saturday will surely determine if the party would still be formidable in a united front to wrestle power from the ruling APGA on November 8. Therefore, they cannot afford to take any chances.

One of the aspirants of the APC, Valentine Ozigbo, after a stakeholders’ engagement meeting of party members from the Anambra Central Senatorial District, last Saturday, urged the APC leadership to ensure a free, fair, credible and transparent process, adding, “The choice before us is clear—this election is not about party pride; it is about Anambra’s survival. And if APC wants to win in November, we must put forward a candidate who can win beyond party lines. And that candidate is me.

“This is not a time for experiments or sentiments. This is a time for strategy. If APC wants to win, we must present a candidate who has the trust of Ndi Anambra, across all parties and communities. I actually believe in a better and orderly process so that fairness can be guaranteed. However, it is also in ensuring there is huge transparency from the beginning of the process.”

All the other APC aspirants have been talking tough ahead of the party’s Saturday primaries. For instance, a businessman and Chairman of United Nigeria Airlines, Prof. Obiora Okonkwo, said he is contesting the seat to take over from the current governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo because he wants to make Anambra a beacon of excellence and good governance.

Citing his significant contributions to the APC, he asserted that his commitment to the party is unquestionable, he described his candidacy as more than a political campaign, but a movement to reclaim Anambra and deliver the leadership the people deserve.

He called for collective effort, urging supporters to stand with him in charting a new course for the state while promising that “together, they would make Anambra a beacon of excellence and good governance. I am a bonafide APC member whose loyalty and involvement cannot be dismissed. Zoning as a non-essential factor in Anambra politics, the state’s challenges demand competence, not sectional considerations.”

Also, an aspirant and the immediate past National Auditor of APC, Paul Chukwuma, appealed to APC delegates urging them to choose a candidate capable of leading the party to victory in the November governorship election, stressing the significance of the delegates’ role in shaping the future of Anambra, framing the decision as one that will impact not only the APC, but also the state’s future prosperity.

He emphasises that this election is not just a selection of a candidate but a pivotal moment that will define the direction Anambra will take in the years to come, adding, “I have stood with this party from the beginning – not because of what it offers me, but because of what I know it can offer the people of Anambra. I have earned the trust and respect of our grassroots. With this broad support base, I am confident our party will march into the November elections united, energised, and poised for victory.”

In conclusion, Chukwuma urges delegates to decide based on loyalty, vision, and qualifications rather than distractions or fleeting promises. He calls on them to vote for him as the candidate who embodies the strength and commitment necessary to lead the APC to victory and secure a prosperous future for Anambra.

“On April 5, 2025, vote for a candidate who embodies the strength, vision, and commitment needed to propel APC to a resounding victory,” he concludes, rallying the delegates to choose him for the greater good of Anambra and the APC.

The Labour Party has also expressed confidence in conducting a free and fair primary, expecting unity among the candidates after the primaries.

The Deputy Publicity Secretary of the LP in Anambra, James Udoh, stated, “For us in the LP, we have only two aspirants who were cleared on Friday, we expect the primaries to be rancour-free and we urged any of the two aspirants to accept the outcome of the primary election and support the eventual candidate to have a formidable front ahead of the November poll. Our national chairman has said that after the primary election this Saturday, no one is permitted to be angry. We will all join hands to emerge in the main election in November. Let no one be weak, let us all stand strong, be united and nothing will be impossible for us to achieve.”

Udoh continued, “The November 8 election is going to be a contest between the LP and APGA. And the edge LP has over APGA is that the people have lost confidence in the current government of APGA, forget all the ‘cosmetic’ words they are brandishing as their achievements, the people who will go to the polls know better. People no longer trust the government, security has collapsed, and thugs are used to enforce the tax. If the government is doing the right thing, people will pay taxes voluntarily. These are some of the things the LP is coming to rebuild and bring the government closer to the electorate.”

The PDP, which initially saw no aspirants for the governorship ticket, now has two candidates who emerged after an extension of the deadline for form submissions.

Speaking, the Anambra PDP Publicity Secretary, Obumneme Nnoli, confirmed that the two cleared aspirants will be unveiled during the primary, expressing confidence in their ability to challenge APGA in the general election.

“The PDP has cleared two aspirants for the Saturday primaries. Initially, nobody stepped forward to purchase the PDP form, but on the last day of the deadline for purchase of forms, two aspirants bought the form in Abuja and they have already been cleared on Thursday. I am not going to reveal the identities of the aspirants now, during the primary on Saturday, they will be revealed. Each of these aspirants brings a unique mix of experience, political influence, and governance vision, they have the capacity to wrestle the ruling APGA in the November poll.”

Nnoli added, “I can conveniently say that this contest is between the PDP and APGA, the Labour Party is in disarray, the APC is not a party to be reckoned with in Anambra, forget the noise they are making. When the chips are down, the contenders will be separated from the pretenders.”

In a contest where the winner takes all and the loser is left with nothing, any candidate picked by a party must be someone acceptable to all and must have a master plan on how to galvanise other members and resources to achieve a common goal. The elected candidate must be the most credible with capacity to wrestle power from Governor Soludo and APGA which has been the ruling party in Anambra for close to 20 years.

Anything other than this, will mean that the November 8 governorship contest may be heading towards a one-horse race and given credibility to the insinuations by the incumbent governor Soludo who has constantly dismissed any serious competition ahead of the November 8, 2025, governorship election in the state, insisting that he had not seen any worthy challenger. And the beauty of democracy is in the quality of the opposition.