Candidates contesting the November 8, Anambra State governorship election have intensified campaigns across the state in a last-minute bid to secure voter support as the clock ticks toward polling day.

Rallies, roadshows, media engagements and endorsements have dominated the final stretch of the campaigns, as each of the 16 candidates tries to sway the state’s 2.8 million registered voters in what analysts describe as a decisive test of Anambra’s political landscape.

The race has been marked by accusations, defections, and controversies, reflecting the high stakes involved as incumbent Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo seeks a second term in office.

Four-way contest

While the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) cleared 16 candidates to contest the poll, observers and political analysts believe the battle for the Government House in Awka is likely to be between four candidates: 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).

Despite their varying political backgrounds, these candidates represent the major power blocs shaping the state’s political identity: APGA’s traditional dominance, the APC’s federal backing, the LP’s rising urban appeal, and the PDP’s historical presence.

Analysts say voter turnout and the ability to mobilize grassroots structures in the 21 local government areas could determine who emerges victorious.

Opposition knocks Soludo over cash-for-votes comment

The campaigns took a controversial turn recently when opposition parties accused Governor Soludo of attempting to induce voters through financial incentives to his party members.

Soludo had announced that every ward won by APGA in the upcoming election would receive N1 million, with additional prizes of N5 million, N3 million, and N2 million for the top-performing wards.

“When we were campaigning for the Senate, we knew we were going to win every ward in the South Senatorial Zone, but we still had some incentives. Any ward that APGA won received N1 million, and we won all the wards in Orumba South. For November 8, any ward that wins again will receive N1 million, while the first three performing wards will get N5 million, N2 million, and N1 million respectively,” Soludo was quoted as saying.

The remarks drew widespread criticism from rival parties, who described the pledge as a direct act of vote-buying and a breach of the Electoral Act.

The APC South-East Vice Chairman, Dr. Ijeomah Arodiogbu, said Soludo’s statement was “a clear violation of the law and an abuse of his position as governor.”

“Clearly, this is vote-buying. Soludo has been carrying out undemocratic activities and forcing communities to commit their votes through local leaders,” he alleged.

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) also joined the call for action. Its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, described Soludo’s statement as “a public confession of voter inducement.”

“Only a sitting governor who has lost public goodwill would so openly resort to cash for votes. It is a new level of desperation wrapped in impunity,” he said.

Similarly, Labour Party National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, accused the governor of “weaponising poverty” after failing to deliver on governance promises. “He wants to buy legitimacy with money,” Ifoh said.

The controversy has deepened opposition claims that Soludo has neglected governance in favour of political survival, especially following the September 2024 local government elections, which APGA won in all 21 councils.

Critics also point to the hurried amendment of the Anambra State Electoral Law by the House of Assembly, which they allege was aimed at limiting the opposition’s chances. Labour Party lawmaker Afam Victor Ogene described the move as “a promotion of undemocratic tactics designed to frustrate rivals.”

Soludo: Incumbent under pressure

For Soludo, the stakes could not be higher. The former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor and economics professor, who took office in March 2022, faces the challenge of convincing voters that his government deserves a second term.

Supporters credit him for fiscal discipline, infrastructure rehabilitation and his push for a technology-driven economy in the state. But critics say his administration has failed to address insecurity, local government autonomy, and grassroots development.

Analysts believe Soludo will bank on APGA’s deep-rooted presence and his control of state machinery to edge past rivals.

Speculation has persisted that Soludo enjoys quiet support from President Bola Tinubu, a claim the APC has publicly denied. In April, reports suggested that both men had reached an understanding that would see Tinubu back Soludo’s re-election bid in exchange for APGA’s support in 2027.

But APC candidate Ukachukwu dismissed the rumours, saying, “Tinubu is a party man. He won’t trade the APC for APGA. Soludo started the speculation himself to gain sympathy.”

Soludo, however, later endorsed Tinubu for re-election in 2027, a move widely interpreted as political reciprocity.

The APC’s National Director of Publicity, Bala Ibrahim, clarified that “the endorsement was one-sided; Soludo endorsed the president, not the other way around.”

According to Ibrahim, “Every party has its candidate, and the APC’s ambition is to win Anambra. We are confident of that.”

Ukachukwu: The veteran challenger

Nicholas Ukachukwu, the APC’s flag-bearer, is no stranger to Anambra politics. Known for his persistence and frequent party switches, he has contested nearly every major election in the state since 1999.

A wealthy businessman and politician, Ukachukwu first served in the House of Representatives between 1999 and 2003 under the PDP. He later defected to the NNPP to contest the 2003 Anambra South Senate seat, then returned to the PDP before attempting governorship and senatorial races multiple times under various platforms, including the PPA and APGA.

Despite his experience and network, analysts say Ukachukwu’s long history of defections could hurt his appeal. A chieftain of the APC in the state, Ike Bishop Okoronkwo, recently declared that “the party has been divided since Ukachukwu won the ticket,” warning that internal disunity may cost the APC the election.

Still, Ukachukwu’s campaign has been vigorous, with a decentralized 30-man team at each polling unit and ward level. He has anchored his message on restoring “integrity, investment, and infrastructure,” promising to bring federal presence to the state if elected.

Moghalu: Labour’s comeback strategy

Labour Party candidate George Moghalu has re-emerged as a key player after years of political maneuvering. A founding member of the APC and former Managing Director of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Moghalu defected to the LP in 2024, accusing his former party of “betrayal and manipulation” during its last governorship primary.

In 2021, Moghalu had challenged the APC’s primary in court and won, but political intrigue prevented his name from appearing on the ballot. This time, he is determined to finish the race.

At the LP primary in Awka, Moghalu polled 573 delegate votes to clinch the ticket. “The election we are going into is like the Premier League,” he declared, acknowledging the tough competition ahead.

Analysts say Moghalu’s entry has strengthened LP’s structure in Anambra, particularly among urban youth and professionals drawn to the party’s “change” message that resonated during the 2023 general election. However, his challenge lies in matching APGA’s and APC’s grassroots machinery.

They observed that Moghalu is running a disciplined campaign and has credibility, but his major test will be rural penetration.

Ezenwafor: PDP seeks to rebuild

Jude Ezenwafor, a real estate developer and former PDP youth leader, emerged as the party’s candidate after running unopposed at the party’s primary in Awka, where he scored 853 delegate votes.

Despite his low political profile, Ezenwafor represents the PDP’s effort to reclaim lost ground in a state once considered its stronghold. He faces the challenge of rallying a fractured party still struggling with leadership crises at both national and state levels.

Ezenwafor has anchored his campaign on “restoring the people’s trust,” promising to prioritize security, job creation, and rural development. But observers say internal divisions and resource constraints could limit his reach.

“The PDP has the name, but not the structure it once had in Anambra,” said political analyst Tochukwu Okoye. “Ezenwafor’s major challenge is rebuilding confidence in a party that many voters now see as disconnected from the grassroots.”

Analysts foresee tight race

As campaigns enter their final days, political observers predict a tightly contested race. APGA remains the dominant force, but the APC’s growing federal leverage, LP’s momentum among young voters, and the PDP’s attempt at resurgence make the outcome unpredictable.

Security agencies have stepped up preparations to ensure a peaceful election, while INEC has reiterated its commitment to credible polls.

With campaigns wrapping up this week, voters in Anambra now face a defining choice between continuity and change, one that could reshape the political balance in the South-East ahead of 2027. (Daily Trust)