Awka, Anambra State – With just five months to the November 8 Anambra governorship election, the major opposition parties, including the All Progressives Congress (APC), appear to be in disarray—leaving the incumbent, Governor Chukwuma Soludo, as the clear frontrunner.
The APC, expected to pose the biggest challenge to Soludo, has been plagued by internal crises following a controversial primary election that produced Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu as its flagbearer. The process, marred by allegations of manipulation and violence, led to the withdrawal of key aspirants and the defection of influential members to rival parties.
Three leading aspirants—Sir Paul Chukwuma, Professor Obiora Okonkwo, and Chief Chukwuma Umeoji—pulled out of the APC primary, citing a lack of transparency. Chukwuma not only withdrew but also resigned from the APC, defecting to the Young Progressives Party (YPP), where he has since emerged as the party’s candidate. Other notable exits include former House of Representatives member Ralph Okeke, who now sits on the YPP Board of Trustees, and Mike Ejezie, the YPP’s Southeast Zonal Chairman.
The APC’s internal turmoil has triggered mass defections. Within days of the flawed primary, the party lost hundreds of members, including six local government chairmen and numerous ward executives. The collapse of the party’s grassroots structures has cast doubt on its capacity to mount a viable campaign against Governor Soludo.
The ruling All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) appears to be benefiting from the opposition’s implosion. Governor Soludo, widely praised for his efforts in tackling insecurity and advancing infrastructure development across the state, has seen a surge in public support. His recently commissioned projects and successful security operations—carried out by a joint task force including the Agunechemba security outfit—have strengthened his standing ahead of the polls.
President Bola Tinubu’s recent visit to Anambra further fueled speculation of a subtle endorsement. At a civic reception in Awka, Tinubu publicly lauded Soludo’s performance, while APC members in the state, including Ukachukwu, were notably absent from the event.
The praise for Soludo has raised eyebrows within political circles, with many questioning whether the APC will actively back its candidate in the race. Some party insiders have already declared their unwillingness to campaign against the governor.
“We won’t resign from APC, but we can’t campaign against Soludo,” said Chief Cletus Nwafor, an APC chieftain. “He has silenced his critics through his performance—especially in tackling insecurity, building quality roads, and improving healthcare services. How do you tell the people not to vote for such a governor?”
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Labour Party (LP) are also reportedly facing similar challenges, including disorganisation and internal divisions stemming from disputed primaries.
As things stand, Governor Soludo’s path to a second term appears increasingly clear, with the opposition fractured and struggling to find footing in a politically dynamic state.
