Three leading political parties in the country at the weekend held their primaries ahead of the November 8, 2025 governorship election in Anambra State.
The primary elections conducted at separate venues in Awka, the state capital, produced the state’s incumbent governor, Prof. Charles Soludo as candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA’) for the election.
Similarly, the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary poll produced Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu, as the party’s candidate while Chief George Moghalu clinched the Labour Party’s ticket to contest the November election.
The leading opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) however, postponed its primary poll to April 8. The state chairman of the party, Chidi Chidebe, confirmed the development to newsmen in Awka at the weekend.
Daily Trust reports that the primary will produce the party’s candidate who would slug it out with candidates of the APC, APGA, LP and others in the November election.
How Soludo emerged
Soludo was returned unopposed during the APGA’s primary poll conducted at the Alex Ekwueme Square, Awka, at the weekend. The governor also retained his current deputy, Dr Onyekachukwu Ibezim, as his running mate.
The Returning Officer for the election, Uche Nwegbo, who announced the results said, “Total delegates for this election is 3,260, 3,175 are accredited delegates, 3,172 is the total votes, while 04 votes were invalid.
“The total yes-votes garnered by the governor is 3,168, while there were no no-votes. So, in line with the INEC guidelines and with the powers conferred on me as the Chief Returning Officer for this election, I, Uche Nwegbo, hereby declare the governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, as returned as the candidate of our party.”
APC aspirants step down for Ukachukwu over zoning
However, the APC had thrown its ticket open to all its members in the three senatorial zones in the state. Following this, many aspirants had purchased their expression of interest and nomination forms at the rate of N50 million each.
Dr. Obiora Okonkwo, who recently joined the party from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP); Valentine Ozigbo (who joined from the Labour Party); Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu; Chuma Umeoji (who joined from APGA), and John Bosco Onukwo (a foundation member of the APC), all obtained their forms.
But a day to the poll, all the aspirants from outside Anambra South withdrew from the race. This decision was widely seen by observers as a response to the zoning formula that has taken root in the state’s politics, which entails power must rotate among the three senatorial districts.
Informed sources told Daily Trust that the aspirants were prevailed upon by the APC National Working Committee (NWC) to withdraw from the race.
Chairman of the APC Electoral Committee and governor of Cross River State, Senator Bassey Otu, eventually announced Ukachukwu as winner of the poll, saying he scored 1,455 votes to defeat his closest rival, Valentine Ozigbo, who scored 67 votes.
He also announced that Johnbosco Onunkwo scored 26 votes and Edozie Madu eight votes, while invalid votes were 26. However, the primary election was reportedly characterised by violence.
Moghalu picks LP’s ticket
Also, Chief George Moghalu, a former National Auditor of the APC, who recently defected to the LP also emerged as the party’s candidate for the November election.
Despite the internal challenges within the Labour Party, including disputes over the leadership of the party, Moghalu emerged as the party’s candidate. Moghalu emerged unopposed at the primary.
(Daily Trust)
