By Cajetan Mmuta, Awka
As Anambra State braces for its pivotal November 8, 2025, governorship election, the political temperature is rising, and the battle lines are sharply drawn.
With 16 political parties set to contest the polls, all eyes are on the ruling All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and its standard-bearer, Governor Charles Soludo, as they prepare for a high-stakes showdown.
Governor Soludo, a renowned economist and former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria is seeking a second term in office as the current occupant of Anambra’s top seat.
Under the banner of APGA and supported by the influential political mobilisation group, the Solution Marshals, the Governor is gearing up to confront formidable opposition forces.
The ruling party is not leaving anything to chance. Last Wednesday, top APGA stakeholders and thousands of Solution Marshals gathered at the Dora Akunyili Women’s Development Centre in Awka for a crucial strategic session themed Synergising” for Victory: ASSMAL and APGA Strategic Alliance.”
Governor Soludo’s administration, now in its third year, boasts a portfolio of achievements. These include over 650 road projects (with more than 500 already completed), multiple bridges, enhanced security architecture, the employment of over 8,000 teachers, a revamped healthcare system, and a reimagined Government House spanning 26 acres.
Tourism and entertainment have also received a boost with the launch of the multi-billion-naira Solution Fun City.
Moreover, the administration has significantly improved investor confidence, attracting both local and international interest in the state’s rich economic potential.
Soludo’s strides in infrastructure, education, and economic development have earned him accolades from stakeholders, residents, and analysts, prompting many to believe that his “Solution” agenda is working.
At the heart of APGA’s re-election campaign is the Solution Marshals. This political powerhouse played a decisive role in previous electoral victories under former governors Peter Obi and Willie Obiano. Their renewed alliance with the party underscores the seriousness of the challenge ahead.
State APGA Chairman, Ifeatu Obi-Okoye, delivered a stirring charge to the foot soldiers.
“This election is not for the faint-hearted,” he said. “It’s a practical movement, not a theoretical exercise. We must anticipate and neutralise every trap laid by the opposition.”
Obi-Okoye called for discipline, synergy, and grassroots mobilisation across the 326 wards and 21 LGAs of the state. He stressed the importance of voter education, registration, and vote protection, noting that “total victory requires unity from ward to state level.”
The opposition, comprising the All Progressives Congress (APC), Labour Party (LP), People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Young Progressives Party (YPP), and others, has been aggressive in its bid to unseat the incumbent. With war chests stocked and strategies in motion, the November poll promises to be an epic contest.
But APGA is not intimidated. “We’ve been here before,” said Comrade Celestine Anere, convener of the Solution Marshals.
He continued, “Our goal is to go beyond the 21-over-21 feat of the last election. This time, we aim for a clean sweep across all polling units.”
House of Assembly Majority Leader, Hon. Ikenna Ofodeme, praised the Solution Marshals for their grassroots mobilisation.
“There’s no difference anymore between APGA and the Marshals. Soludo’s developmental strides speak for themselves, and we must rally to secure his mandate for another term,” he said.
Prof Okwy Maduekwe, Chairman of APGA’s Tactical Committee, echoed similar sentiments, saying that the collaboration between the party and the Marshals would be crucial to countering opposition landmines and securing victory.
Titus Akpudo, a senior marshal and former President-General of the Anambra State Town Union, emphasised the importance of internal harmony. “Disunity at the ward level has been our Achilles heel in the past. This time, we must avoid that mistake.”
Meanwhile, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has reminded all political parties and supporters to adhere strictly to the rules of engagement. Campaigns, which began on June 11, 2025, will run until midnight on November 6, 2025.
INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairperson of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mr. Sam Olumekun, disclosed that among the 16 parties fielding candidates, two (the AAC and NRM) have presented female gubernatorial candidates. Six parties have female running mates, but no party nominated a person with a disability.
INEC also cautioned against the abuse of incumbency, hate speech, physical attacks, and destruction of campaign materials. “Candidates must be given equal access to public media, rally venues, and advertising platforms,” the Commission warned.
With less than five months to the election, Anambra is set for a politically charged season. As the battle for the state’s soul intensifies, Governor Soludo’s APGA, fortified by the Solution Marshals and its extensive grassroots structure, appears determined to defend its turf against growing opposition threats.
Whether this strategic alliance and campaign momentum can withstand the heat of a fierce electoral contest remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: November 8 will be anything but a walk in the park.
