Ahead of the November 8, 2025 governorship election, the political terrain is currently turbo-charged as four political parties are faced with the huge responsibility of electing who becomes their candidate on Saturday, April 5. IKENNA OBIANERI writes on the expectations of the aspirants, the preparations of the political parties, and how the delegates will swing loyalty

The political ground and climate in Anambra State will be battle royale and tension-soaked this weekend as expectations is high for the all important primaries of the political parties fielding candidate for the November 8, 2025 governorship election in the state. Conducting party primaries has not always being a “tea party” anywhere in Nigeria as the process always comes with clash of interests, intrigues and conspiracies which expectedly fuel a rancorous exercise.

About 11 aspirants from major political parties, including the All Progressives Congress, Peoples Democratic Party, and Labour Party, will be vying for their respective party’s ticket on Saturday, April 5, to challenge the incumbent Governor Chukwuma Soludo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance.

And as the November 8, 2025 governorship election in the state draws nearer by the day, the tensions ignited by the forthcoming party primary elections has further highlighted the importance of this exercise to the general elections, demonstrating the fact that party primaries are essential in democratic elections, providing a platform for parties to select their candidates, increasing voter engagement, and promoting party unity and accountability.

It can take different formats such as the closed primary whereby only registered delegate and major party members can participate. Then the open primary where all registered voters, regardless of affiliations, can participate. Semi-closed primary where registered party members and unaffiliated voters can participate. The political parties are at liberty to choose any of these systems it deemed fit.

Since March 20 that the Independent National Electoral Commission declared proceedings for the Anambra elections open, aspirants of various political parties have not left any stone unturned, as they have continued to strategise and increasing voter engagement at the grassroots and encouraging voter participation of their various party delegates to shape their party’s direction.

Recalled that INEC had directed political parties to commence their primaries for the 2025 Anambra State governorship election on March 20, 2025, with the process expected to end by April 10, 2025.

The INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, who disclosed this in a statement on March 6, reminded political parties of the importance of adhering to the election timetable, adding that the governorship election remains scheduled for November 8, 2025.

According to INEC, 12 out of the 19 registered political parties in the country submitted their schedules for the primaries. The commission stressed that early submission allows for proper monitoring in line with Section 84 of the Electoral Act 2022.

“The public may recall that in line with the provision of Section 28(1) of the Electoral Act 2022, the Commission published the Notice of Election on November 13, 2024, over 360 days before the date fixed for the election.

“By the provision of the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the election, the conduct of primaries for the nomination of candidates by political parties will commence on March 20, 2025, and ends on April 10, 2025,” Olumekun stated.

In line with INEC’s directives and guidelines, four political parties fielding candidates for the election have scheduled their respective primaries for Saturday, April 5, further heating up the polity across the state on the day. The indication is that Anambra will bubble with political activities and all eyes will be on the state on Saturday.

Although, INEC had declared that 12 out of the 19 political parties in Nigeria will participate in the November 8 governorship election in Anambra. But as it is, the APC, PDP, LP, and APGA are the only parties with confirmed aspirants for the race. The PDP, which initially saw no aspirants for the governorship ticket, now has two candidates who emerged after an extension of the deadline for form submissions.

While the APGA has already settled on Governor Soludo as its candidate for the upcoming election, the APC, PDP, and LP are set to conduct their primaries this Saturday to select their flagbearers. Although, APGA, the ruling party, also fixed it’s primaries for Saturday, no upset is expected to be recorded at its ground as for them, this exercise is a mere formality as they have already settled on their candidate, who is the incumbent governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo. Therefore, their primaries is just going in accordance with the INEC laws that says political party must hold primaries.

APGA, which is backing Soludo for re-election, sold its nomination form for N30m and Soludo remains the sole candidate for the party.

Soludo, on his part, has consistently ruled out any serious opponent or opposition to his reelection, insisting that he has not seen any serious challenger for the November 8 election, adding, “There is a general agreement among Anambra people that my party, the APGA, has delivered good governance and deserves another term.” He noted, “While Anambra voters may back different parties in national elections, they remain loyal to APGA when it comes to governorship and local government polls.

“If there is an election, I mean there will be an election, and if I am a candidate, I will be on the ballot, and then I ask: who else is running Which party is fielding a candidate? So far, unless the person will come down from somewhere, I have not heard of any.”

Speaking in a telephone interview with our correspondent, the APGA’s National Publicity Secretary, Mazi Ejimofor Opara, explained that Soludo was granted an automatic ticket due to his stellar performance during his first term.

Opara further confirmed that no other aspirants came forward, citing broad support for Soludo, even among opposition figures.

“In fact, the National Working Committee has given the governor an automatic ticket for his sterling performance in the first term, surpassing that of any other governors within same term limit. No other contestant stepped forward to purchase the APGA nomination form because people have seen that the governor has certainly performed so well that even members of the opposition are openly endorsing him for a second term in office.

“On Saturday, April 5, we shall formalise the credible democratic nomination process of Prof. Chukwuma Soludo for a well-deserved second term on the platform of the foremost Progressives party in Nigeria, APGA.”

As the stage is set for a pivotal moment in the state’s political history this weekend, the APC has seen a surge of interest, with seven aspirants purchasing the party’s N50m forms. These aspirants include Prof. Obiora Okonkwo, Nicholas Ukachukwu, Chukuma Umeoji, Paul Chukwuma, Onunkwo Johnbosco Obinna, Valentine Ozigbo, and Edozie Madu.


https://punchng.com/race-for-anambra-governorship-heats-up-as-parties-hold-primaries/