By Emmanuel Aziken
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Undoubtedly, the greatest significance of today’s governorship election in Anambra State lies not merely in who wins or loses, but in the symbolic weight it carries as the first major election to be supervised by the new leadership of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). After years of controversies, legal tussles, and credibility questions trailing the Professor Mahmood Yakubu–led commission, Nigerians are watching closely to see whether this new management can restore confidence in an electoral system that has long been viewed with suspicion.
Across Anambra, the mood is one of cautious anticipation. From Awka to Onitsha and Nnewi to Ihiala, political watchers, civil society groups, and the international community are waiting to see whether this poll will mark a new era of integrity or merely replicate the familiar shadows of manipulation and distrust. If the process proceeds transparently and without major controversy, it will not only boost the image of the new INEC but could also help to sanitise the polity and inject a measure of credibility into Nigeria’s battered democratic space.
This election, therefore, is more than a local contest it is a referendum on the nation’s electoral future.
The Contenders: Between the Incumbent and a Fragmented Opposition
At its core, today’s contest is being shaped as a battle between the incumbent governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), and a divided opposition fielded by multiple parties — notably the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Labour Party (LP), All Progressives Congress (APC), and the African Action Congress (AAC). Each of these parties enters the race with a different appeal, strength, and level of internal cohesion, but what they share in common is a determination to end APGA’s long hold on the state.
The APC, represented by Dr. Nicholas Ukachukwu and his running mate, Senator Uche Ekwunife, arguably boasts one of the most politically experienced tickets in this race. Ukachukwu, a veteran businessman and political figure, and Ekwunife, a two-time senator with grassroots clout, would ordinarily make a formidable combination. Yet, despite their credentials, the pair has struggled to generate the expected momentum — a situation largely blamed on the party’s weak brand in the South-East, where the APC is still viewed with suspicion.
Moreover, within Anambra’s complex political environment, questions abound about how Ukachukwu and Ekwunife could co-govern if elected. Both are known for strong personalities and distinct political ambitions, leading some observers to predict an inevitable clash of egos if they ever share executive power. Thus, while the APC brings structure and resources, it is weighed down by perception problems and internal tension.
The AAC’s Surprise Entry: Chioma Ifemeludike and the Celebrity Factor
One of the most talked-about entrants into this year’s race is the actress-turned-politician Chioma Ifemeludike, contesting under the banner of the African Action Congress (AAC). Initially dismissed as a political outsider, Chioma surprised many in the closing weeks of the campaign by dominating social media conversations and energizing younger voters with her fiery rhetoric, charisma, and confidence.
Her bold claim of being “the only candidate with a practical manifesto” resonated with a youth population increasingly disillusioned with the traditional political elite. She also projected herself as a voice for gender inclusion and generational change, describing her candidacy as “a revolution in heels.”
Unfortunately, her momentum was not adequately amplified by her party structure. AAC’s national leader, Omoyele Sowore, though a visible voice on activism and governance issues, was occupied with other nationwide mobilisations during the campaign’s final stretch. His absence deprived Chioma of the strategic reinforcement she needed to translate her online popularity into real votes. Still, her emergence adds a colourful dimension to the contest and could mark the beginning of a new kind of political participation in Anambra — one driven by visibility, personality, and digital engagement.
Peter Obi and the Anambra Test
Beyond the candidates, today’s election also represents a defining moment for Peter Obi, the former governor of Anambra and 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate. Since his meteoric rise to national prominence, Obi has been hailed as a reformist and a moral compass in Nigeria’s political landscape. Yet, his real test has always been at home — in Anambra, the cradle of his political journey.
Despite his national stature, Obi has struggled to assert dominance in his home state’s local politics. His political base remains fragmented between loyalists in APGA (his former platform) and converts in the Labour Party (his current home) and those who have gone before him to his next political tent, ADC.
Observers believe this election offers him an opportunity to reclaim moral and political control over Anambra ahead of the 2027 presidential race.
However, Obi’s approach to the 2025 election has been ambiguous at best. For much of the campaign season, he remained silent on his preferred candidate, leading to speculation and discontent among his supporters. It was not until the final days before the vote that he openly declared support for the Labour Party candidate, George Moghalu, a technocrat and former managing director of Nigerian Inland Water Authroity, NIWA.
While Moghalu’s candidacy gives Obi a vehicle for influence, many analysts argue that his campaign lacked traction, partly because the Labour Party machinery in Anambra remains weak and fragmented. Some insiders even claim that Obi’s endorsement of Moghalu alienated stronger LP aspirants, who either withdrew or were edged out of the race.
If Moghalu defies the odds and performs well or even wins it would be a major vindication for Obi and a sign that the Obidient movement retains grassroots energy beyond online enthusiasm. It would also help him silence critics who accuse him of lacking home support.
But if Moghalu performs poorly or fails to make the top three, the fallout could be severe. It would reinforce the narrative that Obi’s influence is more virtual than tangible, and that he lacks the political structure necessary to convert popularity into votes. Such an outcome could dim his prospects ahead of 2027 and embolden critics who see him as a moral icon but a weak political mobiliser.
The Broader Democratic Stakes
Ultimately, Anambra’s election today transcends local rivalries. It is a microcosm of Nigeria’s evolving democracy a test of institutional credibility, political maturity, and citizen confidence.
For INEC, it is the first real opportunity to demonstrate that electoral reform is not just a slogan. For the political class, it is a reminder that the era of impunity and complacency is fast ending. And for citizens, it is a chance to reaffirm that power still belongs to the people.
Whatever the outcome, one truth will endure: Anambra remains Nigeria’s political laboratory — a state where ideas, personalities, and ambitions collide in ways that often prefigure the nation’s political future. If today’s exercise ends credibly, it will be a victory not just for the winners, but for democracy itself.
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