By Chinelo Obogo
With barely four months to the November 8, 2025, Anambra State governorship election, the contest is shaping up to be a fiercely contested battle. This is so because the coalition of opposition that adopted the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as a vehicle to contest the 2027 presidential election may shift voter sentiments which could alter the initial three-horse race between incumbent Governor Charles Soludo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and George Moghalu of the Labour Party (LP). John Nwosu is the ADC candidate.
Initially, Daily Sun gathered, the election was perceived as a contest between Soludo, Ukachukwu and Moghalu but Nwosu’s emergence can be said to be significant because ADC has become the preferred platform for opposition coalition forces nationally and he could potentially benefit from Peter Obi’s political movement. Though Nwosu was initially favoured to clinch the Labour Party governorship ticket, he withdrew from the primary election due to the party crisis at the national level. He then resigned from the LP and joined the ADC following Patrick Obianyo’s voluntary withdrawal.
A crucial aspect of this election is the contrast between the candidates. While Soludo, Ukachukwu, and Moghalu are very seasoned politicians in Anambra politics, Nwosu is a younger candidate who would appeal to the youth demographic. His first political contest was in 2021 which makes him the “fresh face” in the race, analysts say. Also, his party, the ADC is gaining traction as a platform for disillusioned LP, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and APC members who are frustrated by internal crises. If Nwosu can rally the youth vote and anti-Soludo sentiment, observers say, he could force a major upset.
Anambra State comprises 21 Local Government Areas (LGAs) and 326 wards. The state is also divided into three senatorial districts: Anambra North, Anambra Central, and Anambra South and it has a long-standing “zoning agreement,” which is aimed at reducing tensions by rotating key political offices among the zones. At the moment, all four leading contenders, and John Nwosu of the ADC are from the Anambra South senatorial zone.
Ukachukwu hails from Nnewi South LGA, while Soludo is from Aguata which is one of the most populated LGAs in Anambra South and has historically been a strong base for APGA. Moghalu and Nwosu are from Nnewi North LGA. The fact that two of the four leading candidates are from this particular LGA shows how keen the contest would be.
Also, the concentration of candidates from a single senatorial zone is an indication that the contest will be fought within Anambra South, as each candidate would want to consolidate their home base before going to Anambra North and Anambra Central respectively.
The front runners
For Soludo, incumbency is a very potent advantage for the former Central Bank of Nigerai (CBN) Governor who has a financial war chest and the state machinery at his disposal. One of his major achievements is the completion of long-delayed projects like the Government House. Another factor that would work in his favour is the historical dominance of APGA in Anambra politics.
However, his administration has been heavily criticised for the rising insecurity in the state which has led to attacks that have claimed lives. The state has remained very volatile, with attacks on residents, lawmakers, priests, and even government facilities happening regularly. Some residents argue that his introduction of the Agunaechemba security outfit and Operation Udo ga Achi has failed to curb insecurity and this has created an opening for opposition candidates to position themselves as alternative.
On the part of Moghalu, his party, LP in Anambra is still reeling from the effects of the controversial primary election that produced him. But most importantly, the leadership crisis at the national level has taken a toll on the fortunes of the party in the state, with key pillars like Peter Obi not showing any support. Obi’s silence has alienated the “Obidient” base that might have otherwise supported Moghalu.
For Ukachukwu of the APC, one of his strengths is his immense financial resources and another is the APC’s federal backing. He also has experience having taken part in multiple elections. However, one of his weaknesses is the controversial primary election that he benefited from but which led to the defection of some party loyalists.
Nwosu is running on the platform of the ADC. One of his strengths is that he’s seen as a ‘fresh face’ in Anambra politics which appeals to youth and professionals. Also, the ADC is more cohesive compared to APC and LP that appear to be in crisis. Like Obi in 2003, he is positioning himself as an outsider challenging the status quo. Though Obi has not endorsed any candidate, his supporters may lean towards Nwosu due to the disillusionment with LP’s internal crisis.
Nwosu’s response to the security challenge in the state, which is more technology-focused, gives him an edge. He says that rather than relying on conventional security measures that have proven ineffective, he would adopt a comprehensive strategy that combines technology with traditional security systems. His plan includes artificial intelligence deployment, CCTV camera installation in key locations like Onitsha, Nnewi, Ekwulobia, and Awka, and urban lighting initiatives that he claims could solve 50 percent of security problems.
He said his SHEEEMS platform which focuses on Security, Health, Education, Economy, Environment, Markets, and Social welfare, represents a “systematic approach to governance that emphasises measurable outcomes and benchmarked performance.” He said he would replicate and improve upon Peter Obi’s Anambra Integrated Development Strategy (ANIDS) governance model for continuity with successful past practices while incorporating more modern innovations.
Nwosu boasts of an understanding of business practices, cost-effectiveness, and resource management which he said is a key concern for Anambra voters who expect their governor to demonstrate wealth creation capabilities. He also emphasises frugality and operating within available resources without frivolous spending or careless borrowing, just as he promises to leverage on Anambra’s oil production status, the commercial-industrial-administrative triangle of Onitsha-Nnewi-Awka (the ONA-axis) and the state’s human capital resources.
On local government autonomy, Nwosu said he is against governors’ interference with council funds, insisting that the constitutional provisions and recent Supreme Court rulings on it must be respected, adding that “I am committed to governance at the grassroots. “
Daily Sun however gathered that the potential obstacles for Nwosu are APGA’s strong grassroots structure and a possible last-minute federal intervention for APC’s candidate, Ukachuwku. There is also the possible issue of voter apathy if campaigns fail to energise the electorate, analysts say.