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Major contestants for 2025 Anambra governorship election emerge (Full list)
Ahead of the Anambra State governorship elections coming up later this year, major political parties have elected their flag-bearers.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the ruling All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), the All Progressives Congress (APC), and the Labour Party (LP) picked their candidates during primary elections held on Saturday at various venues in Awka, the state capital.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is set to elect its flag-bearer on Tuesday, 8 April.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had set a 10 April deadline for political parties to complete their primary elections.
The electoral body scheduled the governorship election itself for 8 November.
APGA candidate
The incumbent governor, Chukwuma Soludo, emerged the candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) at the primary election held on Saturday.
The primary was held at the Dr Alex Ekwueme Square, Awka, amidst tight security and under the watch of the officials of INEC.
Mr Soludo being the sole aspirant standing for the primary election, delegates expressed their choices through a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ vote.
In the end, the governor, who is seeking a second term, polled 3,171 votes from the 3,175 accredited delegates across the 326 political wards in the state.
While presenting the party’s nomination certificate to the governor, the chairperson of APGA Primary Election Electoral Committee, Uchenna Nwegbo, said the process was in compliance with the Electoral Act, 2022.
Mr Nwegbo said Mr Soludo’s unanimous adoption as the sole candidate of the party for the governorship election also adhered to the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022.
Reacting, the governor praised APGA officials for organising what he called a well-structured exercise.
Labour Party’s pick
The Labour Party (LP) elected George Moghalu as the flag-bearer for elections coming up later this year.
During the party’s primary election held on Saturday in Awka, Mr Moghalu, a former managing director of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), secured 573 votes to defeat his only opponent, John Nwosu, who garnered 19 votes.
In his acceptance speech,Mr Moghalu extended a hand of fellowship to his opponent, saying that unity among party stakeholders would be crucial to securing victory at the polls.
“I am ready for the challenge ahead. With my experience in public service and politics, I am confident in my capacity to defeat the incumbent, Governor Chukwuma Soludo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA),” he said.
He thanked the LP for conducting a transparent and credible primary and expressed appreciation to the delegates for their support.
“We must now get to work to sell the LP agenda to the people of Anambra. Our goal is to reach every nook and cranny of the state with our message,” he said.
“Anambra is a blessed state with abundant human and natural resources.
”All that is required is visionary leadership to harness these potentials for the benefit of our people.
“I will restore confidence in the party as we move forward in this race.
“The LP remains a formidable force, and we are moving like a train with a clear destination: a better Anambra,” he said.
Bennett Etanabena, the returning officer for the primary, praised the peaceful conduct of the election and urged all party members to unite and work toward success at the polls.
“Anambra is a Labour Party stronghold,” Mr Etanabena said.
APC’s candidate emerges too
Meanwhile, Nicholas Ukachukwu, on Saturday, clinched the APC’s ticket for the governorship elections.
Mr Ukachukwu, a former member of the House of Representatives, defeated his closest rival, Valentine Ozigbo, and other contenders by a landslide in the primary election held on Saturday.
Mr Ukachukwu polled 1,455 votes while Mr Ozigbo secured 67 votes.
In his victory specch, Mr Ukachukwu pledged to deliver the state to the APC.
“We shall deliver Anambra to the APC. One thing I want to say here — nobody has won the governorship of Anambra without my support; it has never happened before,” he said.
PDP postpones primaries
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) which had earlier scheduled its primaries for Saturday, 5 April has postponed it till Tuesday, 8 April.
The Anambra State chairperson of the party, Chidi Chidebe, said the National Secretariat approved the shift to complete necessary administrative processes and ensure a smooth exercise.
The Senator representing Taraba Central Senatorial District, Manu Haruna celebrates May Day with Nigerian workers in Taraba and across Nigeria.
Senator Manu in a congratulatory letter to all Nigerian workers said:
“Your labour towards building a virile nation shall never be in vain as you celebrate May Day today in Nigeria and across the globe.
The former Taraba State Deputy Governor acknowledged the invaluable contributions of workers across various sectors and emphasized their crucial role in driving the nation’s development and progress.
He encouraged continued solidarity among workers while advocating for better working conditions, fair wages, and enhanced opportunities.
The Administrator of Rivers State, Retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, has reaffirmed his commitment to improving the welfare of workers across the state.
This assurance was given during a meeting with the leadership of organised labour unions held at the Government House in Port Harcourt.
According to a statement issued by the Senior Special Adviser on Media to the Administrator, Hector Igbikiowubo, the meeting served as a platform for open and constructive dialogue on critical labour matters.
The statement outlined key areas of intervention currently being addressed by the government.
These, he said, included the timely payment of salaries and pensions, as well as the resolution of salary arrears, with approval already granted for the payment of newly employed workers at the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital and the judiciary.
Similarly, he said medical workers in the local government areas would receive their proper wages.
He said the minimum wage was being implemented for all local government employees across the state.
The administrator also noted that his administration was currently reviewing challenges related to the contributory pension scheme, ahead of the July 2025 implementation deadline.
Ibas disclosed that plans were underway to expand the fleet of intervention buses reintroduced to ease the transportation burden of workers.
On capacity building, the administrator announced that specialised leadership training for senior civil servants would begin within the next two weeks.
He also revealed that the government was actively considering the implementation of the N32,000 consequential pension adjustment, along with measures to clear outstanding gratuities owed to retirees.
While commending workers for their dedication to service, he called for continued collaboration with labour unions to ensure lasting industrial harmony in the state.
According to the statement, the State Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Alex Agwanwor, expressed appreciation to the administrator for the steps already taken to promote workers’ welfare.
Agwanwor also lauded the government’s openness to dialogue and pledged the sustained support and cooperation of labour unions in achieving shared goals.
Meanwhile the NLC has directed its members in the state to observe the International Workers’ Day as a peaceful rally, which is expected to be held within the premises of the union, involving all affiliate unions, and would focus on advocating for the restoration of democratic governance in the state.
Panic has gripped residents of Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, as multiple explosions rocked the Giwa Barracks in the early hours of Thursday.
The incident reportedly began at about 12:05 am, with residents in the vicinity forced out of their homes by the sounds of loud blasts and the sight of red flares lighting up the sky around the barracks.
While the cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained, residents living in the area confirmed that the blast came from the armoury area
One of the residents, Rakiya Garba, confirmed the presence of men of the fire service, with sirens sounding all around the area
“We are safe, but we are in fear. The explosion is coming from inside the barracks. It is not an attack because we are not hearing gunshots.
“However, it has been a sporadic explosion,” she confirmed
Meanwhile, the Deputy Governor of Borno state, Dr Umar Kadafur, has called for patience, saying that the explosion is a result of a fire incident that erupted at an Armoury of Giwa Barracks
He dismissed reports speculating that it was a Boko Haram attack.
He encouraged everyone to remain indoors, as security operatives are on top of the situation.
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