By Victor Agusiobo
November 8th, 2025 has come and gone. Anambra off cycle election has been lost and won. The incumbent governor Charles Soludo was returned for a second term in office in what was manifestly a clear win.
From one’s observation point the election wasn’t that simple. The outcomes and implications pose serious ideological and political concerns that may define the tenor of politics in the state and the colour of governance in the next four years.
First, let’s do a thoughtful assay of the variables that brought about the gubernatorial outcome in Anambra.
Role Of Political Party
There is still this feeling based on antecedents that could be linked to the revered Emeka Ojukwu, Ikemba Nnewi that APGA is a peculiarly Igbo or even Anambra party. That sentiment while thinning down currently is yet to pale into outright insignificance. So, in some measured way the party played a role in the outcome of that election.
*Soludo’s accomplishments*
One can say quite confidently that the administration when juxtaposed to those before it since the creation of the state and reviewed within the same length of time has done better and more excellently. The close to four years administration has seen massive road construction, employment, hospital development, skills acquisition, bold attempt to restore public water supply to even what may be regarded as other symbolic modernization projects such as the new government house, solution funcity. These ought to have played a major role in the outcome of that election.
*Geopolitics*
Some persons in the state believe and arguably so, that Soludo must have come upon governance with a vengeance rooted in geography. His predilection for an all rounded development of his native Isuofia and old Aguata area seems to rub his critics wrongly. But that factor may have accounted for some of the ‘innocent votes’ his party must have garnered without oiling the palms.
Another geo-political consideration that possibly inflicted itself on the outcome of the said election was the now largely conventional zoning arrangement in the state. The idea was contrived and put to use by the erstwhile governor Peter Obi. It’s a political arrangement akin to a relay race wherein power rotates around the three geo-political zones extant in the state: Anambra North, Anambra South, Anambra Central. Soludo is from the south.
Most politicians from the Central zone would want him to complete his tenure in order for the baton of governorship to get to them. So, no matter their grouse, real or imagined with him, they at least were not desirous to hobble his chances. Instead of voting against him, they would rather stay at home on election day.
*Religion in politics*
From the writer’s observation point, it perhaps could be said that the November 8 election was the first since the emergence of Peter Obi that the big tone of religion did not chime in on the politics of the State.
For reasons, yet indecipherable, the church was either silent or more latent in her role in the Anambra election. Time was, when the church threatened the electorate with excommunication if they failed to vote for a particular candidate. Not this time! Could this posture be a reflection of the Church’s possible assessment of the weight of Soludo’s opponents or could it be a frank symptom of a deeper rift between the governor and the church or did the governor just call her bluff.
Well, whatever it is, he seemed to have won without them as a composite.
*Politics of Personality*
Likeability whether founded on something or nothing remains a potent ingredient of power. Most Anambra people know that their governor in terms of scholarship represents the acme and paragon of academic excellence. A first class professor of economics doesn’t come easy nor cheap. On Soludo’s shoulders are epaulettes of high professional distinction both as former CBN governor, research fellow and consultant for choice institutions.
However in a twist of logical inversion not a few still believe that the governor occasionally lapses into embarrassing moments of apparent bereavement of emotional intelligence, high-wire insensitivity, absence of mental acuity and diplomacy that his high station should covet.
Both postures of the man played different roles in the last election.
*Obi/ Soludo ding dong*
The recurrent ding dong between Soludo and former governor Peter Obi though yet to abate didn’t seem to play a measure role in the election due to some countervailing factors of which zoning is prime. Suffice it however to note that there is a lot of dispositional similarity between IPOB members and Obidients. You don’t needle their principals and remain unsullied, unscathed.
*Critical queries*
Could APGA have lost the election if it had relied solely on her integrity begotten of her good works for the state?
Why did a party that did so well resort to joining the fray in oiling the palms of the electorate?
Was it desperation or a realization of the state of poverty of the mass of people in the state?
At what point does providing democracy dividends in government supercede the allure of money as the enabler of voting? Perhaps these queries are academic but it is in finding sincere answers to them that a clearer trajectory of governance can equally be found.
*Foray into the future*
This writer expects to see some elevated superciliousness and unbridled arrogance on the part of the leadership of the state in the next four years. One expects a ferocious single-mindedness on the part of the governor, unbeholden to neither religious nor traditional institution and who would see the election outcome as the dint of his hard work, astuteness and exemplary leadership.
One expects to see an anti-people tax regime. One expects further primitive unleashing of hooligans as revenue collectors with _ndi aka odo_ taking the stage
One expects increased savagery and nuisance from _udo ga achi_ even in their well intentioned attempt to achieve security in the state. This is so, even as they continue to operate without training. Is it not said that the only position one can successfully assume in life without training is that of an idiot.
One expects heightened vendetta on the church and traditional leaders by the leadership of the state, creating thereby, so much tension in the state.
Here in lies the paradox. One still expects real development in housing development, agriculture, better equipped hospitals and schools, effective transportation system, cleaner towns and cities, increased skills acquisition and development and perhaps an Anambra State that is more conscious and mindful of the climate.
Finally, these ambivalences depending on how they are managed will determine the continued relevance of APGA in the state and the political direction of the governor either for political ascension, stagnation or doom.
