Governor Chukwuma Soludo appears to be heading into the November 8 Anambra governorship election with minimal opposition, as major political parties meant to challenge him are battling internal crises. The All Progressives Congress (APC), expected to be the primary opposition force, is struggling with a fractured structure and leadership disputes. Three prominent APC aspirants—Sir Paul Chukwuma, Professor Obiora Okonkwo, and Chief Chukwuma Umeoji—pulled out of the race before the primary election, citing a lack of transparency and fairness. One of them, Chukwuma, resigned entirely from the APC and joined the Young Progressives Party (YPP), where he later secured the party’s governorship ticket.
The APC’s primary was marred by chaos. Delegates faced delays of over 12 hours, and many were unable to vote after party officials allegedly manipulated the process. Accreditation reportedly happened in secret locations, raising doubts about the legitimacy of the outcome. Thugs reportedly hired by some aspirants attacked delegates during the process, even with security personnel present. Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu emerged as the party’s candidate, but his victory triggered more legal battles and mass resignations.
Valentine Ozigbo, another APC hopeful, challenged the primary in court over claims of irregularities. Disillusioned members began defecting to other parties, showing little interest in supporting the chosen candidate. Professor Obiora Okonkwo, in his withdrawal letter, described the APC’s process as inconsistent with his values and said the situation had reached a point where it was no longer worth risking the lives of his supporters.
The APC’s internal crisis seems to have left a vacuum in the race, with both the Labour Party (LP) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) also dealing with their own disorganization. Several aspirants from these parties resigned even before their primaries, citing similar issues of poor coordination and internal conflicts.
Governor Soludo’s rising popularity is making it even harder for the fragmented opposition to find a footing. His administration has received praise for improvements across key sectors and for addressing security concerns in the state. Combined forces, including police, military, and the Agunechemba security outfit, have reportedly dismantled many camps of criminal gangs previously operating in forests.
President Bola Tinubu’s recent visit to Anambra to commission projects completed by Soludo has further fueled speculation that even elements within the APC may be leaning toward the governor’s re-election bid. Political observers are now asking who, if anyone, is in a position to pose a serious challenge to Soludo come November.
