Anambra Governorship Election: CVR Data Shows Diverse, Engaged Voter Base
Daniel Otera
As Anambra State gears up for the off-cycle governorship election scheduled for November 8, 2025, political activities are intensifying, with candidates, parties, and voters preparing for the pivotal democratic exercise. This election, a litmus test in the build up towards the 2027 general elections, will determine the state’s leadership for the next four years. With 16 political parties fielding candidates and a surge in voter registration, the stage is set for a fiercely contested race.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has reported significant voter enthusiasm ahead of the 2025 election. According to INEC, the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise, conducted from 3 July to 20 July 2025, recorded 168,187 new registrants in Anambra State, the highest two-week registration figure since the process was introduced in 2017.
“The turnout reflected the growing interest of citizens in the electoral process ahead of the 8 November off-cycle governorship election,” said Sam Olumekun, INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairperson of the Information and Voter Education Committee. A detailed breakdown of the data reveals a gender distribution of 58% female (97,832) and 42% male (70,355) registrants, indicating strong participation by women. Young people aged 18–34 constituted 53.97% (90,763) of new voters, underscoring the influence of the youth demographic.
Occupationally, entrepreneurs made up 36.92% (62,157), followed by students at 26.31% (44,243). Additionally, 303 Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) and 207 persons with albinism registered, reflecting efforts towards inclusivity. These figures, available on INEC’s website, highlight a diverse voter base poised to shape the election’s outcome.
However, concerns about voter suppression have surfaced. Posts on X by user @UchePOkoye on 18 July 2025 described INEC’s CVR process as an “operational disgrace,” citing logistical challenges that hindered registration.
“INEC must immediately extend the voter registration exercise in Anambra and address all operational failures,” the user demanded, reflecting public frustration over what appears to be the cumbersome process of getting registered. While these claims remain unverified, they underscore the need for citizens to explore technological processes like the self service pre-registration portals to reduce waiting time. INEC also has more to do in terms of awareness and information dissemination to ensure a seamless registration and voting experience.
INEC has published the final list of candidates for the 2025 election, with 16 out of Nigeria’s 19 registered political parties fielding candidates. The list, released on 4 June 2025, includes candidates’ names, ages (ranging from 36 to 71 years), gender, and academic qualifications, accessible on INEC’s website and social media platforms. Notably, only two parties African Action Congress (AAC) and National Rescue Movement (NRM) nominated female governorship candidates, while six parties, including the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Labour Party (LP), fielded female running mates.
No candidates with disabilities were nominated, a gap that has drawn criticism from inclusion advocates.
The prominent candidates include incumbent Governor Chukwuma Soludo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), who secured his party’s ticket unopposed with 3,172 votes from 3,175 accredited delegates. “Total number of delegates for this election is 3,260. 3,175 delegates are accredited, while the total number of votes is 3,172,” said Hon. Uche Nwegbo, the returning officer for APGA’s primary. Soludo’s backers say his re-election bid is anchored on his administration’s infrastructure and economic reforms. Though he faces challenges over perceived governance disconnects.
The APC candidate, Senator Nicholas Ukachukwu, emerged victorious in a competitive party primary, polling 1,455 votes against Valentine Ozigbo’s 67 votes.
“Nobody has won the governorship of Anambra without my support; it has never happened before,” Ukachukwu declared, highlighting his political influence. The Labour Party’s Dr. George Moghalu, a former National Auditor of the APC, clinched his party’s ticket with 573 votes, defeating John Chuma Nwosu. Moghalu acknowledged the challenge of facing Soludo, stating, “Contesting against the incumbent will not be a tea party, but defeating him is possible.” The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Chief Jude Ezenwafor, was unanimously endorsed by 853 delegates, while Sir Paul Chukwuma represents the Young Progressive Party (YPP).
In terms of how the candidates will perform, there have been conflicting narratives. A report by Anambra Diaries suggested Soludo could secure an “unopposed victory” due to opposition members defecting to APGA, describing his governance as “transformative.” This claim, lacking empirical data, contrasts with other projections focusing on the fluidity of voter sentiment.
Campaigns officially commenced on 11 June 2025, following INEC’s release of the final candidate list, and will close on 6 November 2025. INEC has urged candidates to focus on issue-based campaigns and avoid “abusive language, physical violence, and destruction of opponents’ campaign materials.” The commission also warned against the misuse of incumbency power, citing Section 95(2) of the Electoral Act 2022.
A controversial issue is the N50 million campaign permit fee imposed by the Anambra State Signage and Advertisement Agency (ANSAA) for outdoor campaign activities. The frontline think tank, Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) confirmed this fee, which has sparked debate over its affordability and potential to limit campaign visibility for less-funded candidates.
Political parties are intensifying their strategies. The African Democratic Congress (ADC) inaugurated its Campaign Council on 9 August 2025, with its candidate John Nwosu vowing to challenge President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid through a strong Anambra showing. Action Alliance’s Jeff Nweke criticised the “campaign of bitterness and mudslinging,” advocating for focus on issues like multiple taxation, education, and economic welfare.
Voters are concerned about economic hardship, infrastructure, and governance. Anambra’s economy, heavily reliant on trade and entrepreneurship, faces challenges from multiple taxation and stagnating businesses. Nweke’s call to address these issues could resonate with the 62,157 entrepreneurs freshly registered to vote. Education and youth empowerment are also critical, given the 44,243 student registrants. Security, a perennial concern, remains a priority, with farmers in neighbouring Kwara State facing kidnappings, a situation that could influence Anambra voters’ priorities. In the last governorship election in 2021 only 10 percent of the 2,466,638 registered voters came out for the exercise. Soludo of APGA polled 112,229 votes to defeat his closest rival, Valentine Ozigbo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who polled 53,807 votes. Of the 2,466,638 registered voters in Anambra as announced by INEC, only 253,388 were accredited. 253,388 votes cast, out of which 8,108, were rejected. Grassroots Center for Rights & Civic Orientation (GRACO) calls on Anambra voters to get ready to participate actively in the electoral process, and ensure they avoid the spread of unverified information about the electoral process.
What Voters Need to Know
1. Verify Your Voter Status: INEC has displayed the preliminary voter register across Anambra’s 326 wards from 26 July to 1 August 2025 for public scrutiny. Voters should confirm their details and collect Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), which INEC has assured will be ready before the election.
2. Engage in Issue-Based Voting: Candidates like Nweke urge voters to reject “money for vote” tactics and focus on policy proposals.
4. Monitor Campaign Conduct: INEC’s emphasis on civility means voters should report violations of campaign rules, ensuring a fair process. The N50 million permit fee may also affect campaign visibility for opposition parties, so voters should seek candidates’ manifestos directly.
The 2025 Anambra governorship election is poised to be a litmus test for Nigeria’s democratic process. With a diverse voter base, a competitive candidate pool, and pressing socio-economic issues, the outcome will reflect the state’s aspirations.
As Dr. Olufemi Adebayo of the African Centre for Political and Electoral Studies noted, “We urge all candidates to focus on issue-based campaigns and to avoid divisive rhetoric.” Voters, empowered by data and transparency, hold the key to shaping Anambra’s future.