As Anambra State winds down campaigns ahead of tomorrow’s governorship election, the air is thick with promises and anticipation. Across Awka, Onitsha, and Nnewi, residents are reflecting on weeks of intense politicking and wondering which of the candidates will truly walk the talk.
The 2025 race has been unusually competitive and policy-driven. Unlike past elections often coloured by personality or sectional politics, this year’s contest has seen candidates present governance plans and measurable targets.
At the forefront is Governor Charles Soludo, the candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), who has campaigned on continuity and consolidation. He has promised to sustain ongoing infrastructure and urban renewal projects across the state.
Soludo’s message — “Ochili mma ga-achi ozo” (He who has led well deserves another chance) — resonates with many who believe his administration has kept the state stable. But critics argue that his campaign has not addressed issues such as job creation, insecurity, and transparency. Some also question the progress of his earlier pledge to make Anambra the “Taiwan and Dubai of Nigeria.”
His major challenger, Dr Nicholas Ukachukwu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has built his message around restoration and inclusive growth. He promises to revive the state’s economy through industrial expansion in Nnewi and Onitsha and create a business-friendly environment to attract investors.
Analysts, however, doubt the feasibility of his plans, citing the absence of clear funding strategies.
Another notable contender, Chief George Moghalu of the Labour Party (LP) and a former Managing Director of the Nigerian Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), is running on a platform of reform. He has focused on improving security through community policing and boosting education through technology and teacher retraining. Moghalu has also pledged to revive technical and vocational education to empower young people.
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Political observers describe his plans as innovative but doubt whether the Labour Party has the grassroots machinery to pull an upset, especially since its 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has kept a low profile in the race.
Others in the race include Chief John Chuma-Nwosu of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and several minor-party candidates. Yet, most analysts describe the election as a two-horse race between Soludo and Ukachukwu.
Across party lines, the common thread in all manifestos remains the promise to tackle Anambra’s lingering challenges — insecurity, youth unemployment, and poor infrastructure. But beyond rhetoric, few candidates have outlined how they intend to fund or sustain their plans.
Civil society organisations, including the Transition Monitoring Group (TMG) and Yiaga Africa, have urged voters to scrutinise the candidates’ plans critically.
“Voters should interrogate the manifestos and the candidates’ capacity to implement them,” a Yiaga Africa official said in Awka. “A good promise without a plan is just politics as usual.”
In the streets, opinions are divided. At Eke Awka Market, a trader dismissed the campaigns as routine.
“We’ve heard all these promises before,” he said. “Once they win, they forget the people.”
But a lecturer at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, offered a different view.
“This year’s campaigns were more intellectual,” he said. “If the candidates keep half of what they’ve promised, Anambra will move forward. The problem is implementation.”
Observers say social media has played a major role in shaping this year’s contest. Candidates have taken to online platforms to defend their records, while young voters use the same channels to demand accountability and transparency.
As campaigns officially close, the mood in Anambra is one of cautious optimism. Many voters say they will cast their ballots based on credibility and competence rather than party loyalty or regional sentiment.
Meanwhile, the International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety) has urged eligible voters to come out en masse and exercise their franchise without fear.
In a statement signed by its Chairman, Emeka Umeagbalasi, and two other officials, the group appealed to the over 2.5 million registered voters in the state to resist voter apathy and intimidation.
It, however, expressed concern over what it called “recurring gun-culture threats” and the militarisation of voting environments, warning that excessive show of force could dampen voter turnout.
As the state goes to the polls, one question dominates conversations from Awka to Ekwulobia: Who among the candidates will turn their promises into action?