Aspirants in APC and LP for the Anambra 2025 Governorship election, have stepped up plans to unseat the incumbent governor, Prof. Charles Chukwuma Soludo. With party primaries for the gubernatorial election expected to be held from next month, many of the aspirants have now commenced putting in the required work to make good their vow to sack Soludo.
So far, two aspirants in the Labour Party have picked the party’s nomination and expression of interest forms for the Anambra State governorship election in November. George Moughalu, former Managing Director of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency – NIMASA, and John Nwosu of Jetlinks, have now picked their forms from the Labour Party secretariat for the gubernatorial election.
In the APC, Sir Paul Chukwuma, the leading aspirant in the party, has fully constituted his campaign structure from the state to the local governments and down to the wards. He also enjoys the support of major APC support groups, thereby hinting that he is ready for any mode of primary the APC may decide to adopt, ahead of the November 8 governorship election.
Out of the five aspirants in the APC, only Hon. Chukwuma Umeoji has so far picked his expression of interest and nomination forms for the governorship election. Although, he is yet to resign from his position as the Executive Director, Corporate Services, for the Niger Delta Power Holding Company. On his part, Prof. Obiora Okonkwo who joined the party less than two months ago, has also stepped up his bid with constituting his campaign council for the APC primary election slated for April 6, 2025.
The Anambra APC has continued on a large-scale membership drive and it is currently the only political party with offices in all the local governments and wards of the state, and the offices were procured by Sir Paul Chukwuma. The state office also secured by Mr. Chukwuma, was only last week commissioned by the National Chairman of the APC, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, and the well-attended event was a sort of show of force for the APC in Anambra State.
In a recent membership drive led by Sir Paul Chukwuma starting with Anambra East local government, thousands of new entrants have been attracted to the party across the state. This drive personally spearheaded by the aspirant, is assured by his campaign council to be extended to the 21 LGAs and 326 wards in Anambra State, during his planned tour.
As for the PDP, it is not easily clear if the party is still viable or still has clear membership in Anambra State. There is nothing serious that points to its preparation for the Anambra governorship election later this year. Many of their known members have resigned or joined other political parties. An aspirant for the Anambra South by-election on the party’s platform, Sam Ben Nwosu, has resigned from the party and joined YPP. A few months ago, Osita Chidoka resigned his membership of the party. Meanwhile, Prof. Obiora Okonkwo left the party to contest for the Anambra gubernatorial ticket of the APC, just as George Moughalu left the APC for Labour Party.
However, in terms of momentum and attractiveness of all the major parties in the race to Anambra Government House, the APC in Anambra State appears to be far ahead of all political parties including the ruling APGA. Dr. Obinna Uzoh, a popular politician from Ihiala LGA who was Labour Party’s Anambra South senatorial candidate in the 2023 General Election, has joined the APC and is now in the race for Anambra South by-election. Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu, former APGA member and a known politician from Nnewi South LGA, has joined the APC and is also in the governorship race for the ticket of the party. Engr. Johnbosco Onunkwo, from Aguata LGA, is also in the race for the APC ticket for the governorship election.
By far, the implication is that the APC has now positioned as the major or leading opposition in the November 8 Anambra gubernatorial election. In the days ahead, more defections into the APC are still being expected in the Anambra.
Conversely, but rather surprisingly, the ruling APGA has yet to begin any serious political mobilization efforts. However, the party’s support group, APGA Apostles, has a planned rally to show solidarity and declare support for Governor Soludo’s second term bid. Their plans are yet to see the light of the day. APGA has also not been so visible and has almost not held any rally since Soludo’s tenure except the one held just before the controversial and faulty local government election last September.
For now, there are signs that the coming Anambra gubernatorial election will be keenly contested, but in the end, the most prepared in terms of depths of pocket, and support from crucial segments of the society, among others, will take the day.
Ebuka graduated with a second-class upper-division degree in Political Science from the University of Calabar in Nigeria. He furthered his education by obtaining a Master's Degree in Political Science with a specialization in Government and Development Studies from Nnamdi Azikiwe University in Awka, Nigeria. His academic background and professional experience have equipped him with a deep understanding of political dynamics and governance issues.
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One comment
Dr Chidi Okoye
February 16, 2025 at 5:47 am
Sir Paul Chukwuma is the popular choice for the people. APC is coming into power.