Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, has described the outcome of the recent by-elections in the state as a resounding affirmation of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA)’s political strength, stating that rival parties, the Labour Party (LP) and African Democratic Congress (ADC), have little to no grassroots support in the state.
Speaking on Sunday during a celebration in Nanka following APGA’s victories in the August 16 by-elections, Soludo said the results reflect the overwhelming preference of the electorate for APGA, noting that the performance of opposition parties was minimal.
"ADC does not exist in Anambra. We demonstrated that on Saturday. Labour Party, too, has no viable presence here," he said, addressing a gathering of party supporters.
Soludo was referring to the performance of ADC and LP candidates backed by a political coalition reportedly supported by Peter Obi, former governor of Anambra State and the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate. Obi had identified with a coalition that included the ADC, aiming to build momentum ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In the Anambra South Senatorial District, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared APGA’s Emmanuel Nwachukwu winner with 90,408 votes. He defeated APC’s Azuka Okwuosa, who garnered 19,847 votes, and ADC’s Donald Amangbo, who received 2,889 votes. The seat became vacant following the death of Senator Ifeanyi Ubah in July 2024.
APGA also secured victory in the Onitsha North Constituency 1 by-election for the Anambra State House of Assembly. The party’s candidate, Ifeoma Azikiwe, won decisively in a constituency considered significant due to its association with Peter Obi, who resides in Onitsha.
Soludo noted that the by-election was seen by some as a test of strength for the newly formed coalition, but stated that the results showed strong public endorsement of APGA instead.
“They brought in multiple high-profile figures, including senators and House of Representatives members, in support of the opposition candidate,” he said. “But the people of Anambra spoke clearly. APGA won with approximately 77% of the vote in that constituency.”
Soludo, a former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), is seeking re-election as Anambra governor under the APGA platform in the upcoming November 8, 2025 governorship election. He recently visited President Bola Tinubu in Abuja, affirming his long-standing personal relationship with the president, which he said spans over two decades.
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