From Romanus Ugwu, Abuja
From the schedule of activities released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), it is obvious that political attention in the country is gradually shifting to Anambra State, ahead of this year’s November off-cycle governorship election in the area.
The tensed political atmosphere in the state is understandable. So much is definitely at stake to fight for during the election. Anambra State governorship election has, over the years, shown that it is not just the usual regular elections conducted in other states.
Apart from being the only standalone off-cycle governorship election this year, Anambra is a state with very high political consciousness and awareness, with the involvement of politicians endowed with heavy financial war chest, business acumen, and academic repute to compete against each other.
Already, there are strong indications, from the build-up, that this year’s poll may not be the usual two or three-horse race fight experienced previously, judging by the intricacies and the clout of the aspirants who have positioned themselves to snatch the ticket from the incumbent governor, Prof Charles Soludo.
Clearly, the political heavyweights from the battle-ready political parties have shown that this year’s election is likely going to be a fierce four-horse race battle between the state ruling party, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), the Peter Obi-propelled Labour Party (LP), the rampaging federal might backed All Progressives Congress (APC), and somehow the wobbling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Daily Sun gathered that what may have heightened the political tempo for the election could be last week’s ultimatum the electoral umpire issued to the registered political parties, ordering it to furnish the commission with the schedule of activities for the conduct of their primaries for the Anambra poll.
The directive, in the reasoning of many pundits, which came during the first quarterly consultative meeting between INEC and leaders of the parties, clearly underscored the determination and readiness of the stakeholders to use the Anambra election to rewrite the wrongs of other elections conducted in the recent past.
The meeting, incidentally, apparently provided a viable platform for the electoral umpire to read the riot act and for the political parties under the auspices of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) to ventilate their grievances and discomfort against the commission over its unimpressive performance in the previous elections.
Little wonder there was crossfire during the meeting because as INEC chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, was handing down the order to the party leaders, they, in turn, returned it, fire- for-fire, urging the commission to live up to the expectations of many Nigerians in conducting an acceptable, free, fair and transparent election in Anambra State during the November 8 poll and by extension, the 2027 general elections.
And responding to the usual directives from the commission, IPAC chairman, Yusuf Mamman Dantalle, had furiously charged, and bluntly reminded the electoral umpire that to whom much is given much is expected.
While refreshing INEC’s mind that Nigerians are counting on it for transparent elections that will usher in visionary leaders to transform the country, IPAC noted that; “on its part, INEC as the regulatory body of political parties, has conducted seven general elections from 1999 to 2023, aside numerous off-season elections, by-elections, re-run elections, and supplementary elections.
“With remarkable reforms and steady development in the electoral process, so much is expected from the commission in conducting free, fair, credible, transparent, and inclusive elections that meet international standards. Therefore, the preparation for the conduct of the eight general elections in 2027 should commence immediately to enable the commission to put in place all requirements in due time and to meet the expectations of Nigerians.
“While preparations for the Anambra State gubernatorial election are on, the commission should also activate its Election Project Plan (EPP), Strategic Programme of Action (SPA), the 2022 – 2026 Strategic Plan and Strategic Plan Implementation Programme (SPIP) for the 2027 general election.
“To whom much is given much is expected, INEC should know that fellow compatriots count on it for transparent elections that will usher in visionary leaders who will transform the nation. The commission should justify the confidence reposed in it, put its act together, and improve on previous performance,” IPAC chairman, Dantalle charged.
Earlier, the commission had issued a directive to the party leaders, emphasising that; “the next activity is the conduct of primaries by political parties. May I remind leaders of political parties that the primaries for nomination of candidates for the Anambra State governorship election begin in the next two months i.e. 20th March to 10th April 2025.
“You may similarly recall that at our last regular meeting, we agreed that you would forward your schedule of activities for the election to the commission to enable us to work together and plan better for the deployment of personnel and resources for the monitoring of your party primaries and campaign activities in order to avoid the last-minute rush with the attendant inability to meet deadlines and unnecessarily dissipate our energy and lean resources.
“So far, only a few parties are in compliance. I urge those that have not done so to submit the details by the end of this week,” the electoral umpire boss, Yakubu, warned.
For many political watchers, one of the biggest takeaways from the meeting was the confirmation that electoral activities have shifted to Anambra State as the next political battlefield.
Already, the crossfire seems to have provided the needed push to expedite the build-up of the Anambra poll as some of the political parties have acted with precision in releasing their schedule of activities for the party primaries.
For example, shortly after the ultimatum, the APC National Working Committee (NWC), apparently in an attempt to beat the deadline, released schedule of activities for the conduct of its primary for the Anambra poll, fixing March 29, as the date for its primary.
According to the activities, the sale of expression of interest and nomination forms will commence on February 10, while the amount for the purchase of the nomination forms was pegged at N50 million.
“Female aspirants and Persons Living with Disabilities (PWD) aspirants are to purchase the nomination forms free, while youths under the ages of between 25 to 40 years are to purchase the forms with 50 per cent discount. All the nomination forms will be available for purchase at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja,” the party reflected on its schedule.
Definitely, in line with the bandwagon effects, it is expected that other political parties, especially the PDP, LP, and more importantly APGA, will equally release their schedule of activities this week, to confirm the shift of the political attention to the state for this year’s heaviest political battle.
According to political observers, so much will definitely be at stake for the poll because judging by the way elections were conducted in Nigeria in the recent past, the Anambra governorship ticket will be an open contest for any party to grab.
Therefore, the question on the lips of many electorate in the state have been who will outsmart each other among the political parties? Again, in the reasoning of many curious politically-exposed persons, will it be a continuation of the usual blind loyalty to APGA, or provide fertile ground and opportunity for the former governor of the state, Peter Obi, to begin the test running of his towering national political height in the country ahead of the 2027 presidential election?
But, having manoeuvred its way to victory in both the Edo and Ondo states governorship elections last year, will the APC replicate such a feat in the Anambra poll?
Similarly, will the PDP overcome its leadership crises and put up any feeble fight against the other more formidable oppositions and record any appreciable impact?
Although Anambra was previously a typical PDP state, especially with its cult -like following then, internal wrangling, both at the national and state levels, has not only reduced the party to a shadow of itself but has also long torn it apart, leaving it in shreds.
The good thing, according to pundits, is that aspirants who have so far indicated interest in contesting along their party lines are not pushovers, in any ramifications.
Political heavyweights, in their rights, ranging from the incumbent governor, Soludo of APGA, likely to contest unopposed, Dr. George Moghalu, who perhaps have more political experience than others in LP like Valentine Ozigbo, Barth Nwibe, and Tony Nwoye is equally in the race. Heavy spenders and APC frontrunners like Paul Chukwuma, Emeka Etiaba, and Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu among many others, will square up against each other.
Expectedly, to confirm that the political war has really started, the political warriors have already begun talking tough, campaigning and de-campaigning each other, even ahead of the party primaries, to gradually heat up the political atmosphere in the state.
For Paul Chukwuma, a frontline contender under the APC platform, his New Year message was more of a jab and tantrum against Governor Soludo, as he quipped that Anambra will reclaim its past glory as one of Nigeria’s most peaceful, prosperous, and prestigious states.
According to him, “2025 is the year of a new beginning for Anambra State. It is the year our dear state will rise again to repossess the fullness of its glory and respect among Nigerian states.
“Anambra shall shrug away its present nightmare of clueless leadership and cast aside the dark clouds of insecurity. Yes, Anambra shall rise again this year. I am appalled at how low we have sunk under the leadership of the current administration,” Chukwuma said.
Governor Soludo may have recorded some landmark achievements, especially through the recently launched security outfit, “Operation Udo Ga Achi” as part of his fight to rid the state of insecurity, however, the attacks from the aspirants may continue unabated.
In fact, he would have to surmount certain self-inflicted and administrative hurdles to convince Ndi Anambra that he still deserves their votes.
One of such hitches includes his recent spat with a Catholic priest, Rev Fr Emmanuel Obimma, the Spiritual Director of Holy Ghost Adoration Ministry, Uke, he openly, in the presence of Bishops and Archbishops chastised, during the burial of his mother.
Governor Soludo will equally have the Peter Obi/Obidient wave and the LP rampaging formidable forces in the persons of Victor Umeh, Tony Nwoye incumbent senators, and many other members of the House of Representatives to contend with.
APC is not also a pushover, considering the backing of the Federal Government. But what has always been APC’s greatest undoing is in its inability to get it right during its party primary.
To most political watchers, the test run for the 2027 presidential election for the electoral umpire, political parties, security agencies, and even the electorate, will officially kick off with the conduct of the Anambra State governorship election this year.