Candidates of the 16 cleared political parties will today battle for the votes of 2,769,137 eligible voters in the Anambra State governorship election.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday disclosed that a total of 2,802,790 voters were registered in the state, out of which 2,769,137 collected their Permanent Voter Cards.
The commission revealed that 33,653 cards were uncollected in an election that will be held in 5,718 polling units across the 21 local government areas of the state.
According to the commission, the rate of PVC collection is 98.8 per cent, with Idemili North local government area recording the highest number of PVC collections with 246,318 voters.
The election is the first test for the new INEC chairman, Prof Joash Amupitan, who, during a stakeholders meeting in Awka, said about 24,000 ad hoc staff will be deployed for the election.
This comes as the Police assured voters yesterday of security in today’s election.
Speaking on Channels Television last night, the Commissioner of Police in charge of election security in Anambra State, CP Abayomi Shogunle, assured of security for the election, adding that persons who would cause havoc in the state have been dealt with.
He said in the last month, security has improved in the state because of measures in place.
Shogunle also dismissed concerns of intrusions from neighbouring states, saying that the “number of bordering states won’t be an issue.”
Anambra is bordered by Imo, Kogi, Enugu Delta, Abia, Rivers and Edo states.
He confirmed the commencement of the intra- and inter-state curfew from 12am today.
Meanwhile, the 16 candidates cleared by INEC for contest are Governor Chukwuma Soludo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA); Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu of the All Progressives Congress (APC); George Moghalu of the Labour Party (LP); John Nwosu of the African Democratic Congress (ADC); Jude Ezenwafor of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Also in the race are Paul Chukwuma of the Young Progressives Party (YPP); Charles Onyeze of Accord Party (AP); Geoff Onyejegbu of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP); Echezona Oti of the Allied People’s Movement (APM); Ms. Chioma Ifemeludike of the African Action Congress (AAC); Jeff Nweke of Action Alliance (AA).
Others cleared by the commission are Vincent Chukwurah of the Social Democratic Party (SDP); Chukwudubem Nweke of the Action Peoples Party (APP); Jerry Okeke of the Boot Party (BP); Ndidi Olieh of the National Rescue Movement (NRM); and Martin Ugwoji of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).
The incumbent Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s tenure is expected to end in March 2026.
Soludo won the 2021 election with 112,229 votes, defeating his closest rival, Valentine Ozigbo of the PDP, who polled 53,807 votes.
For weeks, the candidates have been locked in campaigns, wooing voters through their agenda.
Checks by LEADERSHIP Weekend showed that like most parts of Nigerians, the topical issues include security, education, health, employment, and the economy, among others.
Security
To forestall any breach of peace during the election, 55,000 security personnel have been deployed.
Commissioner of Police in charge of election security in Anambra State, CP Abayomi Shogunle, on Thursday said the number of security personnel was increased from 45,000 to 55,000 officers.
He said the deployment included personnel from the Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Immigration Service, DSS, NDLEA, and other sister agencies, with at least three security operatives assigned to each polling unit.
However, some violence prone areas in Anambra, according to reports, are Ihiala, Nnewi North, Nnewi South, Ogbaru, and Idemili North.
In the 2021 election, insecurity concerns preceded the exercise which eventually turned out to be largely peaceful.
Voter Apathy
However, in the 2021 governorship election, out of the 2,466,638 registered voters in the state, only 253,388 voters were accredited, while 241,523 votes were valid.
Divided Opposition May Strengthen Soludo’s Re-election Bid
Meanwhile, the election is shaping up to be a contest between the incumbent, Soludo, and a field of opposition candidates drawn from the major political parties.
Although the race is expected to be competitive, political observers believe that Governor Soludo remains the frontrunner, buoyed by the advantage of incumbency and a fragmented opposition.
…Political parties and their candidates
The APC is fielding Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu, a businessman and politician from Anambra South Senatorial Zone.
Ukachukwu enjoys strong financial backing and the support of federal structures. His running mate, Senator Uche Ekwunife, from Anambra Central, adds political weight and experience to the ticket.
Ekwunife commands a loyal following across the state, having served in both the House of Representatives and the Senate.
However, the APC faces hurdles arising from the state’s informal zoning arrangement, which rotates the governorship among the three senatorial districts. With Soludo already from the South, there is a general expectation that the next governor should come from Anambra Central after the incumbent might have completed his second term of office, a factor that could limit Ukachukwu’s support base.
Political analysts note that Soludo’s strong academic background and technocratic image stand in sharp contrast to Ukachukwu’s business profile, a difference that may influence voter perception.
The Labour Party (LP) candidate, Muoghalu, former Managing Director of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), enters the race with significant administrative experience and a long history in state politics.
Muoghalu is banking on his credibility and the residual influence of the Obedient movement associated with the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi. However, that momentum appears to have waned considerably in recent times.
Although Obi remains influential in Anambra, his support for Muoghalu has not been pronounced, while internal leadership crises within the party continue to weaken its structure.
Muoghalu, also from Anambra South, may find the zoning sentiment working against him despite his respectable reputation.
The YPP is presenting Sir Paul Chukwuma, a former stalwart and financier of the APC who defected to the YPP shortly before the APC primaries.
Chukwuma commands loyalty among some APC members who view his defection as a protest against alleged imposition during the primaries.
Despite this sympathy, Chukwuma’s chances appear limited by the zoning principle, as he hails from Anambra North, the same district that produced former Governor Willie Obiano.
The ADC candidate, Mr. John Nwosu, an ICT expert from Nnewi North in Anambra South, is running with Chief Ndubuisi Nwobu from Awka in Anambra Central as his deputy.
The pair are regarded as calm and development-focused, but their relatively small party structure and limited statewide reach are likely to restrict their electoral impact.
Soludo’s Strengths and Challenges
Governor Soludo’s re-election campaign is anchored on his administration’s acclaimed reforms in infrastructure, education, and local economic development.
His efforts in road construction, urban renewal in Awka and Onitsha, and support for small and medium enterprises are being highlighted as key achievements.
However, critics point to lingering security challenges, complaints about his leadership style, and perceived arrogance as major concerns. His human relations and communication approach have also drawn mixed reactions from residents and political stakeholders.
Despite these criticisms, Soludo remains APGA’s strongest asset, with the party maintaining a solid grassroots structure across the state.
As election day approaches, political analysts believe that the governorship race remains Soludo’s to lose. The combination of incumbency advantage, name recognition, and disunity among the opposition parties appears to favor the governor.
However, factors such as voter turnout, the conduct of security agencies, and the credibility of the electoral process will ultimately determine the final outcome of Saturday’s poll.
Reps Member Warns Soludo Against Intimidation
The leader of the Anambra State caucus in the House of Representatives, Hon. Victor Afam Ogene, has warned Soludo and his party, APGA, against intimidating and coercing voters to support the governor’s re-election in today’s governorship election in the state.
Ogene, who represents Ogbaru Federal Constituency of the state accused Soludo and APGA of deploying undemocratic tactics to win the election and urged his Ogbaru federal constituency constituents to, rather vote according to their conscience, emphasising that there should be no repercussions for not supporting a particular party.
The lawmaker said “democracy is built on the principle of free choice, and so denying citizens this basic right undermines the democratic process”.
The federal lawmaker expressed his concerns in a statement he issued to newsmen in Awka, Anambra State capital, on Thursday, November 6, 2025 ahead of the governorship election.
Hon. Ogene, who is also leader of the Labour Party (LP) caucus in the Green Chambers, further stated: “It’s a misconception that those who don’t support a particular government will be denied development benefits. When infrastructure such as roads, boreholes, or schools are built, it’s illogical to think that only supporters of the administration will use them.”
