The upcoming Anambra State gubernatorial election has unwittingly become a social scientific guinea pig where two professors will test their political, economic and legal experiments. For Prof Soludo, who is seeking reelection for a second term in office, it is a test of some of his radical reforms and Solution programmes in the state, while for Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, the new INEC Chairman, it is the first test of his capacity and suitability for the herculean electoral assignment.
By Goddy Ikeh
ON Saturday, November 8, 2025, the people of Anambra State will file out to vote for the candidate of their choice to occupy the State’s Government House for the next four years. Among the 16 contestants, is Prof. Charles Soludo, who is seeking a reelection for the office of the governor of Anambra State.
Anambra State enjoys both national and international reputation that belies its geographical location. This high profile comes not only from the state’s enviable records in such sectors as economy and education, but it is the home state of many revered academics and intellectuals.
Indeed Anambra state is the Light of the Nation, which has produced intellectuals of global repute such as The Rt. Hon. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Prof. Chike Obi, Prof. Herbert Kodilinye, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, Dr. Alex Ekwueme, Chinua Achebe, Prof Humphrey Nwosu, Cardinal Francis Arinze, Chukwuemeka Odumugwu Ojukwu among others.
Perhaps, these records might have compelled Prof Soludo to declare that today’s political leadership requires application of diverse knowledge and wondered aloud how a political leader, who is deficient in numeracy and destitute of literacy can lead Anambra state successfully. Prof. Soludo, who was a former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, became a professor of economics at the young age of 37, after bagging a first class degree in economics from University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
As the countdown to the November 8, poll continues, Prof Soludo, who stakeholders in Anambra State, have tipped as the preferred candidate in the election, told his supporters during one of his campaign outings that he would not slow down in his campaign since he was expecting a landslide victory at the polls. Some of his achievements in the last four years included the construction of roads, hospitals, Schools and skills acquisition projects for Anambra youths among others.
Perhaps, one of the striking features of his campaign was the voluntary donations by all the local governments in the state as well as various trade associations and students unions. For instance, during Governor Soludo’s campaign in Akwa North Local Government, over N250 million was presented to him to support his ongoing campaign, while the governor was praised for transforming the state capital, Awka from what some politicians described a glorified local government headquarters to a befitting state capital.
In spite of the outcome of the governorship election, this unique practice of party supporters donating millions of Naira to support the candidate of their choice should be encouraged since it will assist credible and qualified aspirants, who do not have the financial resources to seek political office in Nigeria.
Another unique experience in the Anambra State campaign, especially for Soludo, was the entry of the masquerades as members of the league of supporters that endorsed Soludo for his second term bid. Indeed, the sight of a good number of Onitsha masquerades with posters pledging support for Soludo was a comic relief to the campaign for governorship election in Anambra state.
As part of the activities to ensure a peaceful and credible poll in Anambra State, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has accredited 76 media organisations, 508 personnel for the coverage of the Anambra Governorship Election.
The commission stated in its updated record that the media organisations, which met the requirements had been duly accredited by the commission to provide comprehensive coverage of the election.
It noted that the distribution of accredited media tags to individuals across various organisations would commence from Monday, Nov. 3 and end on Thursday, Nov. 6 and that the distribution will take place at the International Press Centre, Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Secretariat Complex, Awka.
INEC also reminded all accredited journalists to adhere strictly to the Code of Conduct for Election Coverage and that the Commission reserves the right to withdraw or cancel the accreditation of any media organisation whose personnel violate the Code of Conduct or engage in acts inconsistent with the Commission’s guidelines.
“In addition, some accredited media organisations have been granted access to the Collation Centre for the purpose of transparent and comprehensive coverage of the collation of results.
“These organisations are expected to comply with all security and operational protocols as issued by the Commission,” it added.
In the area of security, the Commissioner of Police in Anambra state, Ikioye Orutugu, has ordered coordinated security raids on identified flashpoints across the state ahead of the governorship election.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Tochukwu Ikenga, said in a statement in Awka that the measure was aimed at nipping any emerging threats of political thuggery, cult-related violence and illegal possession of firearms in the bud, with the overall goal of ensuring a secure and peaceful electoral environment.
”Area Commanders, Divisional Police Officers and Tactical Commanders must intensify intelligence-driven operations and coordinated security raids across identified flashpoints in their respective areas of jurisdiction in the state,” he said.
He noted that credible intelligence reports indicated that certain individuals and groups, acting on behalf of political interests, might be mobilising youths for violent activities before and during the election period.
Orutugu emphasised that the command would not tolerate any attempt to disrupt public peace, intimidate voters or undermine lawful electoral processes.
He reiterated that the Nigeria Police Force remained neutral and non-partisan in the electoral process.
The commissioner stated that the duty of the police is to protect lives and property of the people, safeguard integrity of the electoral space and enforce the law without fear, favour or political influence.
And for the new INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, the Anambra election is his first test and he promises to deliver a credible election. “The Anambra Election is my first test, we will deliver a credible exercise,” Amupitan said.
Prof. Amupitan has therefore vowed to dismantle the culture of excessive pre-election litigations that has long plagued Nigeria’s democracy.Speaking at the 56th Annual National Conference of the Nigerian Association of Law Teachers, NALT, at the University of Abuja, Amupitan said that one of his top priorities as INEC Chairman was to “end the courtroom warfare” that often began long before ballots were cast.
The INEC boss had after being sworn in by President Bola Tinubu, said that the electoral umpire would not continue to operate in a system where over 1,000 pre-election cases were recorded ahead of the 2023 general elections.
“That is not democracy. That is litigation by other means,” he declared.
According to him, the solution lies not in endless legal battles, but in strict adherence to the law, beginning with the political parties themselves.
“If political parties obey their constitutions, respect the Electoral Act and align with the Nigerian constitution, the avalanche of pre-election cases will collapse. My goal is simple: to make the law an instrument of change, not chaos.
“My desire is that when we get the law right, even the losers will be the first to congratulate the winner. That is when we can truly say our democracy has matured,” Amupitan stated.
Meanwhile, Prof Soludo and the other governorship candidates, had during the peace accord signing ceremony for all the 16 political parties in the contest, their candidates, and state chairmen in the presence of the INEC Chairman, pledged to maintain peace before, during and after the election.
Speaking at the event, Soludo assured that “all the candidates are my friends, we’ll abide by the peace accord”.
In his remarks, Prof. Amupitan, stated that the Anambra State governorship election would be his first major test in office and that he is ready to deliver a credible exercise.
Speaking on behalf of the candidates, Soludo said: “The candidates are all my friends. The roforofo (fight) will end on Thursday and by Sunday we will all go for thanksgiving. It is the Anambra way. When we fight, we fight as if there is no tomorrow, but after that we get back and begin to dine and wine together.
“I thank the Kukah Centre for initiating this. This is my second time participating in this, and reading through the wordings, it is quite important to our democratic process and we hope that we internalise all the wordings.
“To my colleagues, what we signed today is something we should go home with and give to our campaign partners. What we have signed today is a secret oath. As we go home, let us try to domesticate the oath we have taken.
“We will cooperate with the INEC to ensure that this is the best election ever in terms of transparency, due process, integrity and all. “To the police, I say we have 5,720 polling units. You will secure the state and secure the electoral process.
“We are committed to one man, one vote. Let people vote, count the votes and announce the votes. My party, the APGA, and I, will be happy to abide by this.”
In his remarks at the signing of the Peace Accord ceremony, the INEC chairman expressed happiness at the peace accord signing initiative, saying: “As INEC chairman, I’m proud to be part of this peace accord signing for Anambra 2025 off-cycle election.
“I was appointed recently and this is going to be my first assignment and I’m committed to ensuring that this election is fair, credible and free. As much as we are committed to peace, we can only succeed if we have corresponding support from all the stakeholders.
“After witnessing the national peace accord signing five years ago, we decided to devolve it to involve not just the presidential election but states. This was because of the violence that had followed some elections in the past.
“We have had this several times and this is the second time it is happening here in Anambra. Parties have always honoured the accord and we have always had peaceful election.”
“Today, we gather just days to the election and as an election body, I want to assure you that INEC is ready to deliver global best practices. It is not the signatures on this papers that bring peace, it is the commitment of those involved.
“So as you append your signature to this, ensure that the message cascades to all your supporters. By signing the peace accord, you are not only agreeing to this but showing that democracy can only thrive where peace prevails.
“Let us work together to ensure that the coming election is remembered for peace. Anambra is a microcosm of Nigeria and this election will be significant to other elections that are coming up,” Amupitan added.
He urged voters to expect significant improvement in election day logistics, saying the election would be an improvement in every area.
According to him, a total of 2.8 million voters would decide the winner of the election, and the commission would ensure full participation by extending the collection of Permanent Voter Cards, PVCs.
Amupitan assured that his mandate was to deliver credible election and any individual trying to subvert the will of the people would be firmly resisted.
In the same vein, the Inspector General of Police pledged maximum security by the police during the election. He warned separatist elements to steer clear, as they will be resisted.
“This address is to show that the police are committed and ready to present a free, fair, level playing ground to all. Ahead of the forthcoming election, we will ensure order. The Nigeria Police Force stands prepared to ensure that the exercise happens under a free fair and credible atmosphere.
“We will be civil, yet firm and any attempt to undermine public peace will be met with stiff resistance. We remain alert, and we warn the proscribed IPOB and ESN that the peace of Anambra State shall not be negotiated,” he added.
The Chairman of Nation Peace Committee, Gen. Abdulsalami Abukakar (Rtd.), who was represented by Gen. Martin Luther Agwai, had earlier called for peace throughout the period of the process.
“We are gathered here above all rising ambition and party interests, but for the security, dignity of Anambra people. Democracy can only thrive where there is restraint and where life is held sacred. Anambra is a special place in our country, rich in heritage and innovation.
“As an example of maturity, today’s commitment is not in words only but in discipline and actions. To our respected traditional rulers and religious leaders, we recognise your role as custodians of wisdom and unity.
“Your voices of guidance will be needed to uphold peace within our communities. To the media, we appeal for reporting that informs and not reporting that fuel division.
“Let us all remember that democracy is at its best when it truly reflects the will of the people. It must be expressed freely, peacefully and with dignity. When we honour these principles, we protect not only the value but the peace and stability of our society.”
All the 16 candidates of the political parties contesting the election and chairmen of their parties signed the peace accord, which is a pre-election ritual in Nigeria, organised by NPC, under the Kukah Centre and targeted at ensuring that all participants in the election abide by peaceful conduct.
There is no doubt that the stakes are high for both Prof Soludo and Prof Amupitan. If the election is conducted in line with global best practices as promised by INEC, the credit goes to Prof Amupitan and his team and will no doubt restore confidence of Nigerians on the electoral body. And if the election is won by Prof Soludo, it will be a clear verdict that the people of Anambra State are happy with what he had achieved in his first four years and will support him for another four-year tenure as governor of Anambra State.
