As the November 8, 2025, Anambra State
gubernatorial election approaches, the
political landscape is abuzz with activity.
However, amidst the fervor, a major opposition party seems to be relying on a forlorn hope that the election result will be “written” in it’s favour. Little wonder there has been no tangible statement of intent or manifesto targeted at winning over the Anambra electorate. This strategy is not only misguided – it is doomed to fail, given the overwhelming support for Governor Chukwuma Soludo and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in the state.

The three-year scorecard of Governor Soludo shows signifcant strides in improving the state’s infrastructure, economy, and social services. His administration has prioritized road
construction, healthcare, education, and
agriculture which positively impacted on
the lives of Anambra residents. These
achievements have earned him widespread
recognition and admiration from the
electorate.

Historically, APGA has been the dorminant political party with strong support base in
Anambra for over eighteen years. Equally, Governor Soludo’s leadership has only strengthened this support, with many
residents expressing satisfaction with his
governance. This loyalty will of course translate to votes, making it difficult for opposition parties to hijack the election.

In terms of voting pattern, Anambra’s electoral history shows that the state’s voters have consistently demonstrated loyalty to APGA. The party’s candidates have won elections with significant margins, indicating a strong grassroots support that cannot be easily swayed by external factors. Anambra voters have shown a preference for leaders who deliver tangible results and demonstrate a deep understanding of the state’s needs. Governor Soludo’s administration has made significant strides in infrastructure development, healthcare, and economic growth, earning him the statewide support of Ndi-Anambra.

It is intringuing that barely two months to election day, the campaign trail of the stillborn opposition still lacks sustained issues-based discourse but has rather decended to the level of name-calling and mudslinging. This perplexing development has left discerning Ndi Anambra wondering whether the opposition parties angling to replace incumbent Governor Soludo know that it is incumbent on them to present counter proposals and narratives to woo the electorate. Granted that the parties have only shown presence on billboards at strategic points across the state, but many remain largely aloof on issues whilst the purportedly main opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) Candidate, Evangelist Nicholas Ukachukwu seems unable to win over voter converts with his brand of “evangelism” and is stuck on the forlorn hope of “waiting for Godot.”

Another factor which tilts the balance of power in favour of Governor Soludo is that he has taken APGA’s tradition of alignment with the government at the centre to a higher pedestal by outsmarting Abuja-based Anambra influential political hawks with the “Progressives Are Working Together” strategic political manouver which re-enforces his friendship and support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and ensures that his traducers are kept at bay from interfering or dislodging him at the polls.

Above all, those plotting to subvert the electoral process appear not to take into consideration the pivotal role of Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), aka “Ogbuefi BVAS” which was introduced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in 2021 to enhance the security and integrity of Nigeria’s electoral process.

The fact that BVAS has been successful at verifying Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and authenticating voters using biometric data such as fingerprints and facial recognition rightly earned it the monikar: “Ogbuefi BVAS” – save for unforseen occurence like the “glitch.” The BVAS system has largely improved accuracy, increased transparency and enhanced security by preventing multiple voting. Moreover, no political party can successfully manipulate any electoral process where they are unpopular and Ndi Anambra are always at alert at the polls.

All told, given APGA’s dominance, Anambra’s electoral history, and the voters’ preference for effective leadership, any attempt at election hijack through “written results” is doomed not to succeed. The opposition parties would do well to focus on presenting concrete proposals and policies to win the hearts and minds of the electorate rather than relying on tactics which are to all intents and purpose dead on arrival. As things stand, Soludo towers above his opponents in popularity and there is no indication that the outcome will be different on election day.

Okoye, a Public Affairs Analyst, writes from Nawfia, Anambra State.