As the Anambra State governorship election of 2025 unfolds, preliminary results trickling in from various polling units across the state paint a picture of dominance for the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and its candidate, the incumbent Governor Prof. Charles Chukwuma Soludo. Voting officially concluded at 2:00 p.m. on election day, but in line with standard procedures set by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), officials permitted all voters already queued up to exercise their franchise. This extension ensured inclusivity, particularly in areas with high turnout, and allowed for a smoother conclusion to the polling process. With counting now underway in earnest, partial tallies from multiple wards and local government areas (LGAs) are revealing a consistent pattern: APGA is outperforming its major rivals, including the All Progressives Congress (APC), the Labour Party (LP), and the People's Democratic Party (PDP).
The early returns highlight APGA's robust performance in diverse locations, underscoring the party's entrenched grassroots support in Anambra, a state long considered its stronghold. For instance, at Polling Unit 015 in Ward 09, Nnokwa, within Idemili South LGA, APGA secured a commanding 60 votes. In contrast, the APC managed 15 votes, the LP garnered a mere 2, the Young Progressives Party (YPP) also scored 2, and the PDP trailed with just 1 vote. This result exemplifies the lopsided contest in some rural and semi-urban units, where Soludo's administration appears to resonate strongly with voters.
Moving to Uruagu Ward 1 in Nnewi North LGA—a commercially vibrant area known for its entrepreneurial spirit—APGA further demonstrated its appeal by polling 69 votes. Here, the LP came in second with 21 votes, while the APC followed with 14. Other parties did not feature prominently in the reported figures for this unit, suggesting a bipolar contest between APGA and the opposition in certain pockets.
Additional early tallies reinforce this trend. At Polling Unit 010 in Ward 2, Amawbia, Awka South LGA—the state capital's environs—APGA amassed an impressive 132 votes, dwarfing the APC's 39 and the YPP's 13. Similarly, in Polling Unit 009, Ward 1, Igbo-Ukwu, Aguata LGA, APGA recorded 134 votes, with YPP at 19 and APC at a distant 5. These numbers, though preliminary, indicate not only numerical superiority but also a broad geographical spread of support for the incumbent. From the southern commercial hubs like Nnewi to the central administrative zones around Awka and the agrarian communities in Aguata and Idemili, APGA is showing consistency.
One of the most symbolically significant outcomes emerged from the personal polling unit of the Labour Party's candidate, George Moghalu. In a development that underscores the challenges facing opposition figures even in their home bases, Moghalu conceded defeat at his own unit to APGA's Soludo. The detailed breakdown for this unit revealed APGA with 57 votes, LP with 22, and APC with 5, alongside one invalid vote. The unit had 463 registered voters, of whom 86 were accredited—a turnout rate that, while moderate, reflects typical engagement in Nigerian elections. This loss for Moghalu, a seasoned politician with prior roles in national appointments, highlights the difficulty of dislodging an incumbent with visible developmental projects and party machinery. It serves as a microcosm of broader dynamics, where personal popularity alone may not suffice against organized incumbency advantages.
Observers and analysts poring over these initial figures attribute APGA's early edge to several factors. Soludo's tenure has been marked by high-visibility initiatives in infrastructure, education, and security—areas that directly impact daily life in Anambra. Roads have been upgraded, schools refurbished, and community policing enhanced, fostering a sense of tangible progress. Moreover, APGA's historical dominance in the state, dating back to the era of former Governor Peter Obi, provides a deep-rooted network of loyalists and ward-level operatives. The party's ability to mobilize at the grassroots level appears intact, countering narratives of voter apathy or opposition surges seen in other regions.
However, political pundits and election monitors are quick to inject caution into the narrative. These are merely partial results from select polling units, representing a fraction of the over 6,000 units statewide and 21 LGAs. The true picture will only crystallize during the collation process at ward, LGA, and state levels, where INEC officials will aggregate verified figures under scrutiny from party agents, observers, and security personnel. Potential issues such as logistical delays, isolated incidents of irregularity, or discrepancies in voter accreditation could still influence the final declaration. Furthermore, urban-rural divides, ethnic considerations among the Igbo-majority population, and the performance of lesser-known parties like YPP could introduce variables in underrepresented areas.
The election itself was largely peaceful, with reports of enthusiastic participation despite the usual challenges of weather, transportation, and biometric verification hitches. Security agencies, including the police and military, maintained a visible presence to deter malpractice, contributing to an atmosphere conducive to free expression of will. Voter education campaigns by INEC and civil society groups seem to have paid off, as evidenced by the orderly queues and minimal voided ballots in reported units.
In the broader context of Nigerian politics, Anambra's contest is being watched closely as a barometer for regional dynamics in the Southeast. Soludo, an economist by training and former Central Bank Governor, campaigned on continuity and economic transformation, promising to build on his "Anambra Vision 2070" blueprint. His opponents, including Moghalu of LP—who leveraged anti-establishment sentiments—and candidates from APC and PDP, focused on change, anti-corruption, and federal alignment. Yet, the early numbers suggest that incumbency and local party loyalty are prevailing forces.
As collation progresses into the night and beyond, stakeholders await official announcements from INEC. Any lead established by APGA in these snapshots could widen or narrow, but for now, Prof. Soludo appears poised for a potential second term. The final outcome will not only shape Anambra's governance for the next four years but also send ripples through national politics, influencing alliances ahead of future cycles. With democracy thriving through such transparent processes, the people of Anambra have once again demonstrated their commitment to civic duty, and the world watches to see if the early trends hold firm.
