Countdown to Anambra Governorship Election 2025: Everything You Need to Know

Prepare for the Anambra Governorship Election 2025 on 8 November 2025. Explore key candidates, major issues, election preparations, and how citizens can participate for a credible vote.

The countdown is on for the Anambra Governorship Election 2025. The independent electoral body, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has officially scheduled the election for Saturday, 8 November 2025.

This off‑cycle governorship contest in Anambra State holds significant implications for the political climate, governance and development of the State. With approximately 2.8 million registered voters confirmed ahead of the contest, the stakes are high.

In a State with a rich history of political contestation and evolving party dynamics, this election offers citizens the chance to decide who will steer Anambra through the next four years. Whether you are a first‑time voter, a seasoned participant in civic processes or simply interested in how governance evolves in one of Nigeria’s southeast States, this article lays out everything you need to know in clear, everyday language.

We’ll begin with the background of Anambra politics, move on to the key candidates, outline the major issues at stake, examine how the election is being prepared, look at public opinion and predictions, explain how citizens can participate, and finish with some concluding thoughts on why this election matters. Let’s dive in.

Background of Anambra Politics

Anambra State has long been considered a politically active State, with engaged citizens and competitive elections. The State’s political story is shaped by regional party strength, shifting alliances and off‑cycle election rhythms.

One notable party is the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA). APGA has been dominant in Anambra for many years, having governed the State since 2003. In the 2021 governorship election held on 6 November 2021, APGA candidate won, continuing the Party’s continuous hold of the governorship in the State.

The 2021 election also illustrated some of the persistent features of Anambra politics. Issues such as candidate quality, internal party unity, electorate apathy and governance delivery have been recurring themes.

In the run‑up to the 2025 election, observers have described the contest as a “barometer of party fortunes, federal might & personalities.” What that means is that the result will not just be about the winner in Anambra. It will reflect how strong the parties are, how much federal government or external influence plays a role in southeast politics, and how much individual personalities matter.

Because Anambra’s governorship election is off‑cycle i.e., not at the same time as the general elections, it often attracts attention as a standalone contest. The shifting dates and odd timing, due sometimes, to court judgments have added a unique texture to the State’s political calendar.

The lead‑up to the Anambra Governorship Election 2025 must be understood in the context of the State’s unique political history. Anambra State was created on 3 February 1976 when the old East‑Central State was split into Anambra and Imo states. Under military rule the early years were dominated by appointed administrators; for example, Jim Nwobodo became the first elected governor of the state on 28 July 1979 under the Nigeria People’s Party (NPP).

From the advent of the Fourth Republic in 1999, Anambra’s politics became especially turbulent. The State’s first civilian governor in that era, Chinwoke Mbadinuju of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), held office from 29 May 1999 to 29 May 2003. His tenure was marked by heavy influence from political “godfathers” and increasing public dissatisfaction.

In the 2003 election, Chris Ngige of the PDP won and took office on 29 May 2003. However, his administration faced accusations of manipulation and interference by powerful local figures. The Court of Appeal later annulled his election in March 2006, declaring that the process was marred by fraud.

In what would pass as one of the most significant moments in the State’s electoral journey, Ngige’s removal and the recognition of Peter Obi from the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) changed the State’s electoral calendar: Anambra has been operating an off‑cycle governorship election since then.

The ascendancy of the APGA and the shifting dynamics of party strength set the stage for the upcoming Anambra Governorship Election 2025. Under APGA, governors such as Peter Obi and later Willie Obiano focused on infrastructure and investor attraction. In 2021, APGA candidate Charles Chukwuma Soludo won the governorship and was sworn in in March 2022.

What stands out for the upcoming Anambra Governorship Election 2025 is how these past patterns of godfather politics, judicial interventions, off‑cycle timing and party realignments will influence campaigning, voter expectations and the outcome. Voters and contenders alike will have one eye on past disruptions and the other on genuine opportunities for change.

Overall, in Anambra, voters have grown more discerning. They face decisions around security, infrastructure, economy, youth empowerment, environmental issues and more. This makes the 2025 contest especially important.’

The Candidates

As the countdown to the Anambra Governorship Election 2025 intensifies, a field of 16 officially‑cleared candidates from 16 political parties will contest for the governorship. Below are profiles of some of the key contenders whose personalities, records and party platforms will define much of the race.

Charles Chukwuma Soludo (APGA)

Charles Chukwuma Soludo of APGA

Soludo is the incumbent Governor of Anambra State and the flag‑bearer of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in the Anambra Governorship Election 2025. A respected economist and former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (2004 – 2009), his candidacy offers voters continuity, institutional experience and the promise of economic management carried into State governance. His campaign faces the challenge of balancing expectations of performance with the desire among some voters for fresh faces.

Nicholas Ukachukwu (APC)

Nicholas Ukachukwu of APC

Ukachukwu represents the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Anambra Governorship Election 2025. A former member of the House of Representatives (1999- 2003) and a business entrepreneur with a broad base in real estate, construction and agriculture, he positions himself as a challenger offering structural reform, private‑sector driven growth and renewed party leadership in Anambra.

George Nnadubem Moghalu (LP)

George Moghalu of LP

Moghalu is the candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the Anambra Governorship Election 2025. A native of Nnewi in North LGA, with experience in the public sector as a former Director General of a State‑level bureau and as Managing Director/CEO of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), his campaign is pitched toward younger voters and those seeking a break from traditional party structures.

Jude Ezenwafor (PDP)

Jude Ezenwafor of PDP

Ezenwafor is the governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for the Anambra Governorship Election 2025. A real‑estate developer and trade consultant, he emerged via an uncontested primary where he secured unanimous endorsement by delegates. His appeal lies in leveraging the PDP’s national network, though he must contend with the challenge of overcoming entrenched APGA influence in the State.

Other Notable Contestants include:

• Chioma Grace Ifemeludike (AAC) – one of two female governorship candidates in the race.
• Ndidi Christy Olieh (NRM) – the other female candidate in the field.
• Geoffrey Onyejegbu (NNPP) – Retired Colonel and candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) in the race.

This strong and varied lineup of candidates simply means that the Anambra Governorship Election 2025 is shaped not just by party labels, but by the personalities, track records and visions of individual contenders.

Each candidate brings something distinctive, whether continuity and experience (Soludo), structural reform (Ukachukwu), fresh approach (Moghalu), renewed national party effort (Ezenwafor), or gender‑inclusive representation (Ifemeludike/Olieh).

How voters respond to these personalities, alongside the broader campaign themes will be crucial in deciding the outcome.

Major Issues at Stake

The Anambra Governorship Election 2025 is not just about which party wins. At its heart, it is about which leader and team will tackle the pressing challenges facing the State, and whether voters believe their lives can change for the better.

Below are key issues likely to shape voter choices, discussions and campaign narratives:

Economy and Youth Employment

Anambra is economically vibrant, with trade, industry and entrepreneurial activity among its hallmarks. But like many States, it faces mounting pressure from inflation, youth unemployment and rising cost of living. One insight noted that inflation in double digits, government increases in fuel prices and a depreciating naira … all contributed to the reduction in purchasing power of Nigerians, and by extension, residents of Anambra.

Voters want to know what plan the next government have for creating jobs for youth, supporting small‑ and medium‑sized enterprises (SMEs), and making the economy work for ordinary people rather than just big business.

Security and Governance

Security remains a major concern in Anambra State. According to a policy brief, “insecurity in Anambra State has significantly increased in recent years, threatening the State’s democratic process through kidnappings, armed robberies and politically motivated attacks.”

During the election period, security affects voter turnout, candidate campaigns and the integrity of the polls. Citizens expect the next Governor to strengthen law and order, work with federal security agencies, and ensure safe communities, even as campaigns unfold.

Infrastructure and Environment

Infrastructure deficits, gully erosion, flooding and environmental degradation loom large in Anambra. One report states that Anambra leads the list of States most severely impacted by gully erosion … over 100,000 people were displaced across 169 communities in five Local Government Areas in one year.

So for voters the question is: will the next administration invest in roads, drainage, sanitation, housing, environmental protection and deliver on those investments?

Electoral Integrity and Institutional Trust

Another major issue is the trust citizens place in electoral institutions and the voting process. In previous off‑cycle elections, voters expressed apathy, partly because of low perceptions of fairness and transparency.

For Anambra Governorship Election 2025 contest, this is frontline in shaping turnout. Campaigns must be issue‑based, free from intimidation and vote‑buying, and the electoral body must demonstrate credibility so that citizens believe their vote counts.

Identity, Personality and Party Fortunes

Finally, politics in Anambra often involves personalities more than ideology. A recent analysis argues that the 2025 election is a barometer of party strength, federal might and personalities.

What this means is that voters may weigh not only what a candidate says they will do but also whether the candidate is aligned with powerful figures, whether their party has national backing, whether they represent generational change or continuity. Young people, in particular, may demand more than the usual patronage dynamics.

In combination, these issues mean that the Anambra Governorship Election 2025 is about more than party flags. It is about whether the next governor can meet the expectations of a changing electorate and tackle real challenges in a practical way.

Election Preparations

As the countdown to Anambra Governorship Election 2025 continues, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and its partners have intensified preparations to ensure a credible, transparent and orderly poll. Here are the major preparation activities and current status:

Timetable and Key Dates

INEC officially set the date for the election as Saturday, 8 November 2025. The campaign window was also defined: campaign‑activities commenced on 11 June 2025 and will end by midnight on 6 November 2025.

Political parties were required to hold their primaries between 20 March and 10 April 2025.

Based on the election timetable, INEC is required to complete a series of activities that lead up to election day. According to a bulletin, out of 13 major pre‑election tasks for the Anambra Governorship Election 2025, 10 had been completed at at mid‑October 2025.

Voter Register and PVCs

INEC announced that a final register of 2,802,790 voters in Anambra State has been cleared for the election.

In the same update, the Commission reported that between 8 and 20 July 2025, 168,187 new registrants applied and after cleaning 27,817 records, a net addition of 140,370 new voters, plus 5,983 transfers were approved, bringing the total additional voters to 146,353.

As part of preparation for the Anambra Governorship Election 2025, INEC extended the deadline for collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) to ensure more eligible voters receive their cards.

Logistics, Materials and Technology

Logistical arrangements for Anambra Governorship Election 2025 have been robust. INEC has confirmed deployment of non‑sensitive election materials across the State.

According to reports, the Commission plans to deploy approximately 24,000 ad‑hoc staff to manage election operations across 5,718 polling units in the State.

Mock accreditation exercises using the Biometric Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) have been conducted in selected local government areas. The exercise tested equipment and process flows ahead of the main event.

Security and Stakeholder Engagement

Security is a major pillar of preparation for the Anambra Governorship Election 2025. INEC, in collaboration with security agencies, and at the Inter‑Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES), reviewed deployment plans, movement restrictions and intelligence operations.

The Commission has engaged with political parties, media and civil society organizations to remind all stakeholders of the electoral timelines and to discourage campaign violations.

Readiness Status

In the final phase of preparations, INEC declared that it was 99 percent ready for the Anambra Governorship Election 2025, following a comprehensive review tour across the State.

INEC noted that the only remaining tasks were the publication of the Notice of Poll scheduled for 25 October 2025, the end of campaigns (6 November 2025) and the election proper (8 November 2025).

Public Opinion and Predictions

As the countdown to Anambra Governorship Election 2025 gains momentum, several trends in public opinion and expert predictions are emerging, trends that could shape the outcome of the poll in meaningful ways.

Research carried out ahead of the Anambra Governorship Election 2025 shows a worrying decline in public confidence in the electoral process. A report by Kimpact Development Initiative (KDI) found that 71 percent of voters in Anambra State say they have little or no trust in the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct the forthcoming election fairly.

This trust deficit is compounded by worsening voter apathy. The turnout in past governorship elections in Anambra fell to just about 10.3 percent in 2021.

Another key concern borders on the information environment. A briefing by Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD West Africa) noted organized disinformation campaigns ahead of the election, including narratives that question INEC’s neutrality or evoke identity‑based tensions.

Together, low trust, low turnout and high risk of misinformation raise red flags for the credibility of the Anambra Governorship Election 2025.

Opinion polls released ahead of the Anambra Governorship Election 2025 suggest a clear frontrunner. According to a survey by Anambra Opinion Polls (AOP) involving twelve independent research firms, one candidate, Chukwuma Umeoji, enjoys 54.6 percent support from respondents while the incumbent, Charles Chukwuma Soludo trails at 22.3 percent.

The poll further placed another contender, Tony Nwoye at 15.8 percent.

These figures indicate that if the election were held today, Umeoji would likely emerge victorious.  But then, polls are snapshots, not predictions of certainty.

Several factors will determine how the election plays out:

• Youth and urban turnout: If younger voters and urban populations engage in high numbers, the balance of the contest may shift.
• Trust in institutions: Given the low trust in INEC and security agencies, any malfunction on election day e.g., late openings, machine failure will amplify doubts about legitimacy. KDI identifies this as a major risk.
• Campaign narratives: Issue‑based campaigns versus personality and identity‑driven politics will matter. Many voters are calling for credible plans, not just party flags.
• Security and misinformation risks: The CDD‑West Africa briefing warned that misinformation and identity‑based tensions are threats to the credibility of the Anambra Governorship Election 2025.
• Incumbency versus change: The polls suggest dissatisfaction with the current administration, offering space for challengers. But incumbency still brings resources and structure.

These are possible scenarios that could happen with the Anambra Governorship Election 2025:

• High turnout / issue‑based campaign – In this scenario, the election becomes a genuine contest. A candidate with strong grassroots presence and credible proposals could upset the status quo.
• Low turnout / institutional failures – If turnout remains low and logistic or trust failures occur, the result could reflect entrenched party machines rather than broad public choice.
• Security / misinformation disruption – If misinformation or security threats disrupt parts of the election, legitimacy will be questioned regardless of outcome, making the Anambra Governorship Election 2025 a test case for off‑cycle polls in Nigeria.

Ultimately, the public opinion environment ahead of the Anambra Governorship Election 2025 signals that the election is prospective of not just who wins, but how the winner wins. Issues of turnout, fairness, transparency and campaigning quality will say as much about the State’s democratic health as the ballot count.

How Citizens Can Participate

The success of the Anambra Governorship Election 2025 depends not just on the candidates and election authorities, but on the active participation of citizens. Engaged voters can help ensure a credible, transparent and meaningful election. Here are practical ways for citizens to get involved:

1. Register and Collect Your PVC

Every eligible voter must ensure they are registered with INEC and have collected their Permanent Voter Card (PVC).

Citizens should also check that their details, that is, name, polling unit, and local government are correct on the final voters’ list for the Anambra Governorship Election 2025.

2. Educate Yourself on the Candidates and Parties

Before casting a vote, research candidates’ records, manifestos and party platforms. Knowledgeable voting reduces the influence of misinformation and helps citizens make decisions based on policies, governance experience and development plans rather than personality alone. Attend town halls, debates, or verified online forums to gather reliable information.

3. Participate in Civic and Voter Education Programmes

Civil society organizations, community leaders and media outlets are conducting voter awareness campaigns across Anambra State. Citizens can join these programmes to understand election procedures, voting guidelines and how to report irregularities. Active involvement strengthens democratic practices and ensures the election is peaceful.

4. Observe the Election

Trained and accredited citizens can volunteer as election observers with INEC or trusted non-governmental organizations. Observers help monitor polling processes, identify malpractice and report issues. This transparency will build public confidence in the outcome of the Anambra Governorship Election 2025.

5. Promote Peace and Responsible Campaigning

Citizens can play a critical role in maintaining harmony. Avoid spreading unverified claims on social media, discourage hate speech and encourage dialogue within communities. Peaceful civic engagement ensures that the election proceeds smoothly and reflects the genuine will of Anambra people.

6. Vote on Election Day

Finally, the most direct form of participation is voting. Arrive early at your polling unit, follow the instructions of election officials and cast your vote responsibly. Every vote counts in shaping the next leadership of Anambra State in the 2025 governorship contest.

By taking these steps, citizens not only exercise their rights but also contribute to a credible, free and fair Anambra Governorship Election 2025, strengthening the democratic culture of the State and setting a positive precedent for future elections.

In Conclusion…

Anambra Governorship Election 2025 represents a defining moment in the political life of Anambra State. With a competitive field of candidates, pressing issues like youth employment, security, infrastructure and governance at stake, and an electorate increasingly aware of its rights and responsibilities, the election offers citizens an opportunity to shape the future of the State.

From understanding the rich history of Anambra politics to following the campaigns of influential candidates like Charles Soludo, Nicholas Ukachukwu and George Moghalu, voters are now positioned to make informed choices.

Preparations by INEC, including voter registration, logistics and security arrangements demonstrate the commitment to a credible election. Meanwhile, public opinion, polls and predictions suggest a dynamic contest, reflecting both the challenges and aspirations of the people.

Active citizen participation remains the cornerstone of a successful election. By registering to vote, educating themselves about candidates, engaging in civic programmes, observing the electoral process, promoting peace, and ultimately casting their votes, Anambra residents can ensure that the 2025 governorship contest is not only competitive but also fair and transparent.

As the State approaches 8 November 2025, the Anambra Governorship Election 2025 offers yet another chance for voters to influence policies, demand accountability and set the tone for future democratic practices in Anambra. Every action taken by citizens in the lead-up to and during the election will shape the legacy of this pivotal poll.

References

• https://www.thisdaylive.com/2024/10/18/inec-fixes-november-2025-for-anambra-governorship-election/
• https://www.inecnigeria.org/downloads-all/time-table-and-schedule-of-activities-for-anambra-state-governorship-election/
• https://pointblanknews.com/pbn/news/inec-confirms-2-8m-voters-for-anambra-governorship-election/
• https://punchng.com/anambra-2025-inec-sets-july-8-for-voter-registration/
• https://www.vanguardngr.com/2025/06/inec-resumes-voter-registration-in-anambra-july-17-nationwide-aug-18/
• https://www.thecable.ng/anambra-guber-poll-inec-registers-168000-new-voters-in-two-weeks/
• https://punchng.com/anambra-inec-flags-31690-unclaimed-pvcs-ahead-voter-registration/
• https://von.gov.ng/inec-unveils-final-list-of-candidates-for-anambra-election/
• https://nigerianobservernews.com/2025/06/anambra-2025-inec-publishes-final-list-of-candidates-unveils-campaigns/
• https://www.inecnigeria.org/advert-for-application-to-serve-as-observer-groups-for-the-november-8th-anambra-governorship-election/

You might want to check this out…

• https://nnewicity.com/total-number-of-registered-voters-in-different-local-governments-in-anambra-state-in-preparation-for-the-2025-governorship-election/