Anambra 2025: Dissecting the Governorship Race; Who Leads, Who Lags, and What Lies Ahead?

By O'star Eze

As the sun sets on another frenetic campaign season in Nigeria's heartland of commerce and culture, Anambra State stands on the cusp of a defining moment. 

Just 12 days from November 8, 2025, when 2.82 million registered voters will troop to 4,000 polling units to elect a governor for the next four years, the air is thick with promises, palpable tensions, and the weight of unwritten history.

This off-cycle poll isn't merely a local affair; it's a litmus test for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) under its new leadership, a barometer for zoning sentiments in Igbo politics, and a referendum on the incumbent's blend of bold reforms and bruising taxes.

With 16 candidates; 14 men and two women, from 16 political parties, the field is crowded, but the frontrunners are clear: Professor Chukwuma Soludo (APGA), seeking re-election; Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu (APC); Chief George Moghalu (LP); Sir Paul Chukwuma (YPP); and Mr. John Nwosu (ADC).

At Fact Reporters Media Network, we have scoured official INEC lists, candidate manifestos, civil society assessments, and real-time social chatter to deliver this comparative editorial. 

Our lens? Not partisan cheerleading, but a rigorous breakdown of backgrounds, strengths, weaknesses, policy pitches, and public pulse. Key themes emerge: zoning (favoring Anambra South after cycles in Central and North), infrastructure deficits, insecurity in flashpoints like Ihiala and Orumba, and the specter of vote-buying amid economic squeeze.

No formal opinion polls have surfaced in the final stretch; a curious void that underscores voter apathy risks, but qualitative indicators point to Soludo's incumbency edge, tempered by opposition cries of fiscal overreach.

The Contenders: A Snapshot of the 16

Drawing from INEC's June 4, 2025, final list and verified profiles, here's the roster – ordered by senatorial zones for zoning context – with ages (where available), qualifications, running mates, and pithy bios.

 Anambra South (Soludo's zone) dominates with five candidates, underscoring the rotational undercurrent.

Anambra South (5 candidates):

Prof. Chukwuma Soludo (APGA, 64, PhD Economics, Running Mate: Dr. Onyekachukwu Ibezim): Incumbent since 2022; ex-CBN Governor; architect of bank consolidation. Pledges sustained infrastructure (e.g., three flyovers in Onitsha) and youth empowerment.

Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu (APC, 62, B.Sc. Business Admin, Running Mate: Sen. Uche Ekwunife): Oil magnate, ex-Rep; SNECOU Group founder. Focus: Industrial revival, women's inclusion via Ekwunife's clout.

Mr. John Nwosu (ADC, 58, Economics/Computer Tech, Running Mate: Dr. Ndubuisi Nwobu): Jetlink Group CEO; 30+ years in ICT across West Africa. Agenda: Digital economy, anti-corruption.

Ozo Jeff Nweke (AA, 55, WAEC/FSLC, Running Mate: Elvis Obi): Blue Shield Security CEO. Security-first pitch amid rising kidnappings.

Chioma Grace Ifemeludike (AAC, ~35, B.Sc. Political Science, Running Mate: Not specified): Youngest contender; civil rights activist. Youth mobilization, gender equity.

Anambra Central (6 candidates):

Chief George Moghalu (LP, 68, Law/Economics, Running Mate: Mrs. Ifeoma Okaro): Ex-NIWA MD; Zimuzo Foundation founder. Tech-education nexus; integrity badge from serial runs.

Hon. Jude Ezenwafor (PDP, 56, Not specified, Running Mate: Not specified): Real estate mogul; unopposed primary winner. Trade diplomacy, job creation.

Col. Geoffrey Onyejegbu (NNPP, 60, Military training, Running Mate: Not specified): Retired colonel; ex-APC aspirant. Security overhaul, rural dev.

Christopher Chukwudubem Nweke (APP, 44, Law, Running Mate: Blessing Okeke): Legal eagle. Justice reform, youth inclusion.

Jerry Okeke (BOOT, 71, Civil Eng/Geology/Law, Running Mate: Not specified): Edumail Publications founder; 100+ books authored. Education revolution.

Ndidi Christy Olieh (NRM, 40, B.Sc., Running Mate: Reginald Ogbe): Party spokesperson. Grassroots empowerment, anti-poverty.

Anambra North (5 candidates):

Sir Paul Chukwuma (YPP, 47, First-Class Philosophy/Law/LLM, Running Mate: Hon. Uzu Okagbue): Olivia Universities founder; seminarian roots. Innovation hubs, medical tourism.

Vincent Chukwurah (SDP, 54, High School Diploma, Running Mate: Not specified): 2023 House aspirant. Affordable housing, SME support.

Charles Onyeze (Accord, 54, Not specified, Running Mate: Appolonia Ezeadili): Philanthropist. Welfare nets, community dev.

Echezona Otti (APM, 66, HND, Running Mate: Chuka Ezeigwe): Veteran politician. Agricultural boom, flood mitigation.

Martin Ugwoji (ZLP, 59, WAEC, Running Mate: Faith Obi): Party loyalist. Labor rights, equitable growth.

Comparative Analysis: Strengths, Weaknesses, and Policy Fault Lines

Experience and Incumbency: Soludo towers here – his CBN tenure sanitized banking, and state projects like the Ekwulobia-Awka road signal delivery.

 Ukachukwu (federal lawmaker) and Moghalu (NIWA head) match on credentials, but lack Soludo's war chest (over N1bn in pledges).

Newer faces like Ifemeludike bring fresh energy but zero executive heft; veterans like Okeke (71) offer wisdom, yet risk ageism.

Policy Priorities: Infrastructure unites all; Soludo eyes urban renewal; Chukwuma, tech parks; Nwosu, digital bridges.

Security? Onyejegbu's military background edges him, but Soludo's improved policing sets the bar.

Economy: Ukachukwu's oil ties promise FDI; Moghalu's cooperatives target rural poverty. Gender? Ekwunife (Ukachukwu's mate) and the two female candidates (Ifemeludike, Olieh) push inclusion, but only six female running mates overall signals a gap.

Strengths and Weaknesses – The Frontrunners:

Soludo (APGA): Strengths: Zoning lock (South's turn), machine-like mobilization (179 kingdoms, LG chairs), dev scorecard. 

Weaknesses: Tax hikes alienate traders; vote-buying whispers (N5k-20k inducements).

 Edge: Sweeps all 21 LGAs?

Ukachukwu (APC): Strengths: Ekwunife's grassroots firepower; federal whispers (Tinubu's "renewed hope" nod). Weaknesses: APC's shallow Anambra roots; zoning overlap with Soludo. 

Edge: South surge if feds pivot.

Moghalu (LP): Strengths: Obi-factor halo; integrity (no scandals); education manifesto. Weaknesses: LP infighting; Central zoning wait. 

Edge: Urban youth.

Chukwuma (YPP): Strengths: Youth appeal (47); Ubah legacy; innovation pitch. Weaknesses: North zoning drought; minor party.

 Edge: North breakout.

Nwosu (ADC): Strengths: ICT globalism; PDP defections via Nwobu. Weaknesses: Obi ambiguity; South saturation.

Edge: Tech-savvy middle class.

For the underdogs (e.g., Ezenwafor's PDP trade focus, Onyeze's philanthropy), viability hinges on coalitions; PDP's federal ties could surprise, but APGA's dominance (since 2006) looms large.

Public Sentiment and the 'Poll Void': No quantitative surveys (e.g., from NOI or ANAP) have dropped, but X chatter and CSO briefs tilt Soludo-ward: 60% of recent posts laud his security gains, 25% decry taxes.

Opposition alleges "cash-for-votes" (Soludo's N50m advert levy on rivals), fueling apathy fears in insecure belts.

 INEC's 24,000 ad-hoc staff and BVAS mock runs aim to counter, but thug arrests signal risks.

Verdict: Soludo's Shadow, But Cracks in the Facade

In this comparative crucible, Soludo emerges as the colossus, incumbency plus zoning could net 70%+ votes, echoing Obiano's 2017 rout. Yet, Ukachukwu's APC machinery and federal flirtations pose the sharpest threat; a Tinubu tilt could flip South LGAs. Moghalu and Chukwuma shine as principled disruptors, but minor parties cap their ceiling. 

The women; Ifemeludike and Olieh, symbolize progress, yet systemic barriers persist.

Anambra deserves more than zoning roulette or cash bazaars; it craves verifiable ballots and visionary governance. INEC, police, and voters: November 8 tests your resolve. As Fact Reporter Media, we stand vigilant; because in the Light of the Nation, darkness thrives only if we look away.

O'star Eze is Editor-in-Chief of Fact Reporters Media Network. Views are informed by deep-dive research; reader feedback welcome at factreportersmedianetwork@gmail.com