My Dear Anambra People

Its Election Time Again

Election season is upon us once again, and as expected, politicians and political parties are gearing up to serenade us with lofty, often unfulfilled promises.

As many of you know, the three major political parties in Anambra have now selected their gubernatorial candidates. APGA, once a reputable political staple in our state, has chosen Professor Charles Soludo. APC, the party currently controlling the federal government, has put forward Mr. Ukachukwu. Meanwhile, the Labour Party has selected Dr. George Moghalu to carry their flag. As we approach the November 8, 2025, election, these are the choices before us.

Let us begin by evaluating the current administration. Since Professor Soludo assumed office, Anambra has faced severe security challenges, and most notably the Monday sit-at-home order that continues to paralyze economic activity. Soludo himself acknowledged that he was unable to campaign in parts of the state, such as Ihiala, due to the presence of “unknown gunmen.” This alarming admission illustrates the depth of insecurity under his leadership after he took office. Suffice to say that nothing has changed since then.

Entire communities, including my hometown of Ihiala, have been emptied, I mean real ghost towns. Businesses have shuttered. Residents have fled to other regions where they feel safer. Despite branding himself “Mr. Solution,” Soludo has offered no meaningful solution to the insecurity and economic paralysis gripping our state. Billions of naira have been lost, lives have been cut short, and infrastructure has deteriorated.

Only recently, as elections approach, did Soludo’s administration introduce a Homeland Security Law—an unfunded mandate that shifts the responsibility of security to local governments without the resources to meet such a task. His token efforts to combat criminal hideouts have proven ineffective and appear more performative than substantive. Anambra deserves better.

For the past three years, many Anambra citizens in the diaspora have dreaded coming home—not because they don’t love their homeland, but because they no longer feel safe here. Infrastructure development has ground to a halt. Since Peter Obi’s administration, no significant progress has been made. This election offers us an opportunity to evaluate Soludo’s record honestly. The question is: will we?

APGA has dominated Anambra politics since Nigeria’s return to democracy. But loyalty without accountability leads to decline. Alarmingly, this APGA administration seems to be warming up to the same federal government that has historically marginalized the Southeast. Since the end of the civil war, federal investment in Igboland has been nearly nonexistent. Under the current APC government, this neglect has intensified. Ministerial appointments have routinely excluded the East. The North favors the North; the West favors the West. Why then should we, in Anambra, support a party that offers us nothing?

This is the same APC that has allowed the demolition of properties owned by Easterners in Lagos and Abuja. It is the same APC government that, under President Buhari, enabled the rise of violent Fulani herders across the country—all in the name of protecting outdated grazing rights. Look at Imo State: after APC manipulated the courts to install a fourth-place finisher as governor, the state has witnessed continuous decline. If we hand over Anambra to APC, it would be like willingly drinking poison.

And now, after rigging their way into power at the federal level, APC seems eager to manipulate the 2025 election in Anambra. We know what President Tinubu is capable of: economic failure and electoral manipulation. It was shocking to see Soludo invite Tinubu to commission projects in Anambra. Why now? Has Soludo been promised a federal appointment in exchange for sabotaging his own campaign and aiding the APC? The timing is suspicious. Politics, indeed, makes strange bedfellows.

Anambra is in crisis. Insecurity has gutted our economy. Businesses have lost billions due to the laughable and tragic sit-at-home orders. Unemployed youth are increasingly drawn to gangs, occultism, and drugs. And what does our governor do? Dance gwogwogwo-ngwo, laugh, and entertain guests while our state burns.

This election is critical. We have tried APGA, and apart from the years under Peter Obi, the results have been deeply disappointing. APC has nothing to offer the Southeast and likely never will.

It’s time to look at the Labour Party. This is a party that gave hope to millions during the recent national elections. It is a party with leaders who understand the needs of Ndigbo. It is time for Anambra—the Light of the Nation—to rise again and take charge of our destiny.

Chief Charles Odimgbe, blogger and a transportation expert writes from Savannah Georgia.