Today, the people of Anambra State in south-eastern Nigeria will choose their next governor. The election comes at a crucial time for the region, which faces significant security challenges and economic pressures, writes Emameh Gabriel.
Sixteen candidates are competing for the position. However, most attention is focused on three main contenders: the current governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA); Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu of the All Progressives Congress (APC); and Senator Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah of the Young Progressives Party (YPP).
More than 2.8 million people have registered to vote across 21 local government areas. They will cast their ballots at 5,718 polling units. Voting is scheduled to begin at 8:30am and end at 2:30pm on Saturday.
The police have announced restrictions on movement from 6am to 6pm on election day to help maintain security. Nigeria’s police force has deployed 45,000 officers to provide security during the voting.
Security remains a major concern in Anambra. The state has experienced violence from armed groups who have enforced regular sit-at-home orders, disrupting business and daily life. Some areas, particularly Ihiala, Ogbaru and other border communities, are considered potential flashpoints for trouble.
Commissioner of Police Abayomi Shogunle, who is in charge of election planning, sought to reassure voters. “As we speak, those flashpoints have been secured,” he said. “Elections will go on peacefully in those places tomorrow. We carried out clearance operations, arrested several suspects and recovered materials they intended to use to disrupt the election.”
The election will be the first major test for Nigeria’s new electoral chief, Professor Joash Amupitan, who was appointed last month. He has promised improvements in how the election is conducted. “Voters should therefore expect a significant improvement in Election Day logistics,” Professor Amupitan said.
However, one of the biggest challenges may be convincing people to actually come out and vote. In the last governorship election in 2021, only about 10% of registered voters participated – just 253,388 people out of 2.4 million registered voters.
Professor Amupitan has described voter apathy as “the greatest enemy to Anambra’s democracy.” The electoral commission has been making appeals through local media and community leaders, encouraging people to overcome their fears and vote.
The election is seen as significant beyond Anambra State. As one of Nigeria’s most commercially active states, the outcome could influence political trends across the south-east region. Election observers describe it as an important test before Nigeria’s next general elections in 2027.
For voters, the campaign has focused on issues of security, the economy and development. Governor Soludo is asking for another term to continue his infrastructure projects and economic policies. His main rivals are promising change – Ukachukwu emphasising better connections with the federal government, and Ubah highlighting his business background and populist approach.
As preparations were finalised on Friday, election materials were being distributed from the Central Bank office in Awka, the state capital. The Resident Electoral Commissioner, Queen Agwu, supervised the process, which was watched by party agents and observers.
The coming hours will show whether the security measures convince people to venture out, and whether the political promises resonate with a population that has become increasingly cautious about political contests.
By Sunday morning, Anambra should know whether Professor Soludo will continue for another four years, or if voters have chosen a different direction for one of Nigeria’s most economically significant states.
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