2.7 million Anambra voters to decide next state governor today

2.7 million Anambra voters to decide next state governor today

About 2.7 million registered voters in Anambra State will today head to the polls to elect the state’s next governor for a four-year term, in what is expected to be one of the most closely watched elections in recent years.

As preparations reached their peak on Friday, major towns including Awka, Onitsha, and Nnewi witnessed a calm atmosphere. Banks, markets, and offices remained open, though there was noticeable movement around the offices of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), an increased security presence on major highways, and aerial patrols by police helicopters across the state.

The governorship election will feature candidates from 16 political parties, but analysts say it is largely a four-horse race among incumbent Governor Charles Soludo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), George Moghalu of the Labour Party (LP), Nicholas Ukachukwu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and Jude Ezenwafor of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The poll is widely regarded as a referendum on Soludo’s performance over the past four years. For the APC, the election presents an opportunity to expand its political footprint in the South East, a region where the party has struggled to gain control. The Labour Party, buoyed by the popularity of its 2023 presidential candidate and former Anambra governor, Peter Obi, will be testing its enduring influence in the state. The PDP, meanwhile, is seeking to regain lost ground after years of internal crisis and declining relevance in Anambra politics.

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Interestingly, none of the four leading candidates hail from the same local government area, creating a diverse contest map. Ezenwafor is from Idemili South LGA, Moghalu from Nnewi North, Ukachukwu from Nnewi South, and Soludo from Aguata LGA. Except for Ezenwafor, whose Idemili South falls under Anambra Central Senatorial District, the other three contenders come from Anambra South, setting up an intense intra-zonal rivalry.

Political observers note that Governor Soludo’s growing closeness to President Bola Tinubu could be a significant factor in the election. During Tinubu’s visit to Awka earlier this year, Soludo publicly declared APGA’s support for the president’s 2027 re-election bid — a gesture that has sparked speculation that the APC may be less confrontational in this contest.

Today’s exercise also marks the first major election under the leadership of the newly appointed INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan (SAN), who assumed office only weeks ago. Civil society organisations have described the Anambra poll as a critical test of his capacity to deliver credible, transparent elections ahead of the 2027 general polls.

As voting begins this morning, security agencies have assured residents of safety, while observers and stakeholders will be monitoring closely to see whether Anambra once again upholds its reputation for vibrant but largely peaceful democratic participation.

2.7 million Anambra voters to decide next state governor today