Anambra 2025: Soludo Launches Re-election Bid with Confidence, Cites Transformative Legacy

 

As the race for the Anambra State governorship intensifies, Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo has declared that he will lean heavily on the strength of his administration’s performance to secure victory in the forthcoming November 8, 2025 election.

Campaign activities are officially set to commence on Wednesday, June 11, following a timetable released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The electoral body has also stipulated that all campaigns must conclude at midnight on Thursday, November 6, 2025, just 48 hours before voters head to the polls.

Governor Soludo, who emerged unchallenged as the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) candidate during the party’s primary election in April, appears poised for what promises to be a fiercely contested electoral season. No fewer than 3,260 APGA delegates endorsed Soludo’s re-election bid at the party’s congress held at Alex Ekwueme Square, Awka.

Sixteen political parties will be vying for the coveted governorship seat, having successfully met the candidate submission deadline of May 12, 2025, and fulfilled all requirements set by the electoral commission. According to a statement issued by Sam Olumekun, INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, the final list of candidates was released after all substitution processes and verification of personal details were concluded.

Soludo’s team has signaled an unwavering commitment to running an issue-based campaign. Christian Aburime, the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, emphasized that the administration is prepared to showcase its achievements, asserting that the governor’s track record in office will be a central pillar of the re-election campaign.

“You can see the work that has been done across Anambra. From infrastructure to education, healthcare and security, the Soludo administration has touched the lives of people across all strata of society,” Aburime told Sunday PUNCH. “We’re not afraid of any scrutiny because the governor has performed. The campaign will be built entirely on those tangible results.”

Over the past three years, Soludo has been credited with initiating road construction projects, reforms in the state’s revenue systems, investments in digital innovation, and a push toward a greener, technologically driven economy. These initiatives, his supporters argue, have set him apart as a performance-driven leader and may tilt the odds in his favor.

As the campaign officially kicks off, the governor’s principal opponent will be Nicholas Ukachukwu of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Ukachukwu, a businessman and politician, will be hoping to harness both national party machinery and grassroots support to mount a strong challenge to the incumbent.

Despite the federal connection of his main challenger, Soludo’s camp expressed confidence that the presidency would maintain a hands-off approach throughout the election. Aburime was quick to praise President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s democratic credentials, noting that the governor does not anticipate any form of undue federal interference.

“The President is a democrat. He has always insisted on fairness and transparency in electoral processes, and we believe the Anambra election will be no different,” said Aburime. “He has also acknowledged the developmental strides of Soludo, so we are confident that the federal government will remain neutral.”

Campaigns in Anambra State are historically intense, marked by passionate political engagement from voters and the strategic maneuvers of candidates. Analysts suggest that Soludo’s incumbency and visible development projects could serve as a buffer against opposition challenges. However, with 15 other candidates also in the race, the outcome remains uncertain.

Observers will be watching closely as the political climate heats up, particularly in a state known for its vibrant democratic participation and unpredictable electoral dynamics. Civil society organizations and election monitoring groups have already begun mobilizing for pre-election engagements, with a strong emphasis on voter education and non-violence.

As the clock ticks toward November, all eyes will be on how the campaigns unfold, how voters respond to candidates' messages, and whether Soludo’s governance record will indeed carry him across the electoral finish line for a second term.