…INEC deploys 24,000 officials across 5,718 polling units
….Soludo faces 15 contenders in off-cycle poll
The much-anticipated Anambra State governorship election is underway today, Saturday, November 8, 2025, with voters across the state trooping out to elect their next governor.
Anambra is among eight states that hold off-cycle elections, alongside Bayelsa, Kogi, Imo, Osun, Ondo, Edo, and Ekiti. The state joined the special election timetable in 2003 after a Court of Appeal judgment in Enugu removed Dr Chris Ngige of the PDP and installed Mr Peter Obi of APGA as governor.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has listed 16 candidates to contest this year’s poll. They include:
Onyeeze Chidi (A)
Nweke Ezechukwu Japhet (AA)
Ifemeludike Chioma Grace (AAC)
Nwosu Chima John (ADC)
Ukachukwu Nicholas (APC)
Soludo Charles (APGA)
Otti Cyprian Echezona (APM)
Nweke Christopher Chukwudubem (APP)
Okeke Chika Jerry (BP)
Moghalu George (LP)
Onyejgbu Geoffrey (NNPP)
Ndidi Christy Olieh (NRM)
Ezenwafor Jude (PDP)
Chukwurah Vincent (SDP)
Chukwuma Paul Chukwuka (YPP)
Ugwoji Uchenna (ZLP)
INEC assures readiness
INEC Chairman, Prof Joash Amupitan, reaffirmed the Commission’s readiness, disclosing that 24,000 personnel have been deployed across the state. He said elections will hold in 5,718 of the 5,720 polling units, noting that two units were excluded due to absence of registered voters.
The incumbent governor, Prof Charles Soludo, remains one of the leading contenders in the tightly contested race.
Follow this thread for real-time updates, results, and situation reports from across Anambra State as voting, counting, and announcements unfold.