Few weeks to the Anambra state gubernatorial election, there has been a lot of political fireworks in the state.
Scheduled to hold on November 8, 2025, the governorship election in the state generated a lot of political activities even as many observers and analysts have remain so much uncertain as to how the pendulum will swing this time around.
In the history of the state, only two governors have served one tenure; Sir Chinwoke Mbadinuju of his blessed memory and Dr. Chris Ngige.
Will the history repeat itself in the November 8, 2025, election in the state? Only time will tell.
However, five guber candidates to watch in the November election have been highlighted in this writeup.
Prof. Charles Chukwuma Soludo (All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA)
Prof. Charles Chukwuma Soludo is the incumbent governor of the state. He is seeking for the second tenure under the platform of All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA.
He was on born 28 July 1960 a former governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN.
He is also an economist by profession. He was elected into the office of the governor of the state in the 2021 gubernatorial election.
However, on 9 November 2021, the Independent National Electoral Commission announced Soludo as the winner of the 2021 Anambra State gubernatorial election and governor-elect of Anambra State. He was issued a certificate of return on 13 November 2021.
On 17 March 2022, Soludo was sworn in as the fifth Governor of Anambra State.
Prior to his election in 2021, in September 2009, Soludo announced his aspiration for the seat of the Governor of Anambra State, in the southeastern Nigerian state’s election of 9 February 2010.
On 9 October 2009, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) chose Soludo as their consensus candidate for the position from a field of 47 candidates, after repeated attempts to hold elective primaries were stalled by court injunctions.
However, his nomination was contested by 23 of the 47 aspirants, citing lack of transparency in the process.
After this initial rancour, 36 out of the 47 candidates, and several top candidates of the PDP affirmed their support for Soludo on Wednesday, 14 October 2009. Soludo went on to lose to Peter Obi in an election that was largely considered free and fair according to major election observers.
Dr. Nicholas Ukachukwu (All Progressives Party, APC)
Nicholas Ukachukwu is a candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC and will be contesting in the gubernatorial election coming up in November 2025. He was born on March 20, 1969 to the family of Chief Ukachuwku Nwako, a prominent businessman and community leader in Osumenyi, Nnewi South Local Government Area of Anambra State.
He is a billionaire businessman and industrialist. He is the Chairman/CEO of SNECOU Group Limited, an organization with an interest in oil and gas, real estate, construction, agriculture, education, and media.
He’s a former member of the House of Representatives, representing the Bwari Abuja Municipal Federal Constituency. He is a founding member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Nwachukwu served as a member of the House of Representatives, representing the Bwari Abuja Municipal Federal Constituency between 1999 and 2003.
He attended St. John’s Primary School, Osumenyi, for his primary school education. He would later proceed to St. Charles Secondary School, Onitsha, for his secondary school education.
After obtaining his secondary school leaving certificate, Charles Ukachukwu proceeded to the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, where he studied Political Science and obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in 1984.
He also has a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree from the University of Manchester, England, in 1988.
Since he left the Green Chamber many years ago, he has tried to remain relevant in the political scene in the state.
After his unsuccessful attempt to get the PDP governorship ticket, he left in 2006 to join the Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA), where he emerged as the party’s candidate but was defeated by Peter Obi of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).
He contested again on the platform of the Hope Democratic Party (HDP) but was again defeated by Obi, who was re-elected for a second term.
Charles returned to PDP in 2013 but again was unable to win the party’s ticket, which was won by Osekoka Obaze, who would later lose at the general poll to Willie Obiano of APGA.
He left PDP again in 2018 to join APGA, where he contested and won the primary election to emerge as the party’s candidate for the Anambra South Senatorial District in the 2019 election.
However, his victory was short-lived as an aggrieved aspirant, Dr Anselm Enyimba, filed a suit at the Federal High Court in Abuja, claiming the primary election was marred by irregularities and fraud.
The court nullified his candidacy and ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission to recognize Enyimba as the party’s candidate.
Enyimba would later lose to Ifeanyi Ubah of the YPP.
Sir Paul Chukwuma (Young Progressives Party, YPP)
Another gubernatorial candidate in the forthcoming governorship election in Anambra state is Sir Paul Chukwuma. He is contesting under the platform of Young Progressives Party, YPP.
He was born on the 27th day of February 1978 at Ihiala, in Ihiala LGA of the state.
His father, Late Mr. Titus, a dedicated schoolteacher who traversed Anambra State plying his trade as a teacher, and Mrs. Florence Chukwuma, of Nneyi Village, Umueri, Anambra East Local Government Area, Anambra State.
Sir Chukwuma is happily married to Mrs. Fidelia Chukwuma, and they are blessed with six lovely children. Currently, Sir Paul sits as the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council of Benue State University, Makurdi, as well as the President of the Nigeria-Burundi Business Council.
He is also the immediate past National Auditor of All Progressives Congress, APC. He was also an ex-Seminarian in the Catholic Church. His journey into Priesthood, which was his childhood desire, was later punctured by his longing to do more and impact his world in more profound ways.
This journey which eventually placed him on the map as a sought-after businessman, education consultant, and investor, commenced during his National Youth Service at the National Assembly, Abuja, in 2001.
A First-Class graduate of Philosophy from the prestigious University of Nigeria Nsukka – UNN, he turned down the offer of employment to become a teaching staff of the university for the same reason that he desired to live a far more impactful life than the lecturing opportunity offered.
According to him, lecturing had limited chances to unlock his capabilities in the economic, social, and political spheres of life. Yet, his love for acquisition of knowledge continued to grow which saw him going back to school. This was how he returned to Baze University Abuja, for a law degree, and again at Baze University, he graduated with First-Class. He then went on for his Master of Laws degree – LL.M, in Intellectual Property & Information Technology Law from the reputable and prestigious University of Derby, United Kingdom. At the University of Derby, he graduated with Distinction. Sir Paul is an Alumnus of the acclaimed Lagos Business School.
A decent and devoted Christian, Sir Paul Chukwuma is a longstanding member of the noble and ancient Order of the Knight of St. Johns’ International – KSJI. He is a member of a number of other organized bodies including, Rotary Club International, the Nigeria Philosophers Association, the Mumbai-Münster Institute of Advanced Studies, and the Golf Club of Bujumbura, Burundi.
He is a reputable businessman having invested in business Education, Information Communication and Technology, Construction and Real Estate, Hospitality and Leisure, with Olivia Hotels in East and West Africa, among many others.
His businesses speak to his exceptional business savoir-faire and entrepreneurial proficiency, with an exceptional track record of excellence in Nigeria, extending to East Africa and beyond.
For decades, he has expanded the scope and expertise of his excelling businesses to cover the value chain across his business interests. He has expanded into new business fields including steel manufacturing with the acquisition of a steel manufacturing company in Anambra State and an ongoing Olivia University of Medical Sciences, also in Anambra State, Nigeria. This is in addition to the already completed Olivia University in Bujumbura, Burundi; a First-Class conventional Institution of higher learning.
Sir Chukwuma is a well travelled and exposed man, with businesses across various continents including Europe, Asia, and America, Sir Paul Chukwuma’s life demonstrates the power of an individual’s desire for impact. Having excelled in all his personal pursuits, business, and family, an organized form of charity to give back to society was his next point of call.
For this reason, he set up several programmes and projects through his NGOs, and Foundation. Since the inception of these charity channels, he has served humanity by providing several scholarship opportunities to bright but indigent students across Nigeria. In 2024, he offered to pay for the WAEC of all Anambra State indigent students who were unable to pay because of financial constraints.
His philanthropic gestures are innumerable, with thousands of lives touched and supported with seed capital for their businesses. Still feeling that there is more to give to humanity, Sir Paul established the Centre for Applied Research & Development – CARD. As the name suggests, CARD is designed to serve as a centre to encourage, support, and foster independent, creative, and technological initiatives by people with skill, talent, and know-how to be assisted to channel their ability into practical, problem-solving research and development for the benefit of mankind.
George Moghalu(Labour Party, LP)
George Moghalu was born on December 7, 1961. He is the pioneer National Auditor of the All Progressives Congress, APC. After his defection to the Labour Party in 2024, George Moghalu was later elected as the flag-bearer for elections coming up later this year.
During the party’s primary election held on Saturday in Awka, Mr Moghalu, a former managing director of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), secured 573 votes to defeat his only opponent, John Nwosu, who garnered 19 votes, showing Mr. Moghalu’s wide acceptance as the suitable candidate for the November 8 gubernatorial polls.
George Moghalu’s career spans several sectors, including politics, business, and public service. His most notable political career highlight was his service as the Managing Director of the Nigeria Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA).
In this role, Moghalu played a key role in the development of Nigeria’s inland waterways infrastructure, which is critical for the country’s economic growth, particularly for the transportation of goods.
In addition to his work with NIWA, George Moghalu has held various political positions, including being a prominent figure in the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Anambra state. He also ran for the governorship of Anambra State in 2021 under the APC ticket, though he was not successful in the election. Despite this, he remains an influential figure in the politics of Anambra State and the southeastern region.
Moghalu has also been a strong advocate for infrastructure development, economic growth, and youth empowerment. His political vision centers on improving the socio-economic conditions of his community and the country as a whole.
George Moghalu is married with children. While he maintains a relatively private personal life, he is known to be a family man who has balanced his career and public service with his family life. His family is highly respected in their community, and George has often emphasized the importance of family values in his political journey.
Throughout his career, George Moghalu has largely maintained a low profile when it comes to controversies and scandals. However, like many public figures, his political journey has been accompanied by criticisms, particularly regarding his political ambitions and candidacy in the Anambra gubernatorial election. His bid for the governorship in 2021, which he ultimately lost, was met with mixed reactions. Some supporters felt his candidacy represented a new direction for the state, while opponents criticized his platform and questioned his readiness to lead the state.
Additionally, as with many politicians in Nigeria, there have been political rivalries that have led to disputes and controversies, particularly within the APC in Anambra. However, there is no major scandal that has severely impacted his career.
In the context of his work with the Nigeria Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), some critics have questioned the pace of infrastructural development and the allocation of resources during his tenure, though these criticisms have not been substantiated by major scandals.
Mr. John Nwosu (African Democratic Congress, ADC)
John Nwosu was a former aspirant on the platform of the Labour Party (LP) for the November 8 Anambra State governorship election.
However, he emerged as the candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) for the same election, after defection from Labour Party.
Nwosu Chima John is a successful businessman, economist, and governorship aspirant in the forthcoming Anambra State elections.
After his defection and subsequent election victory during primaries for the guber election, he is the flag bearer of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in the governorship elections scheduled for 2025. He made his intentions known to run for the position in a press release which was made public earlier in 2025.
As a businessman, Nwosu is the Chief Executive Officer of Jetlink Group Ltd, an ICT company linked to major banks in Nigeria and the Central Bank of Nigeria.
He is a native of Oduda, Nnewichi, Nnewi in Anambra State and has over 30 years of corporate business experience.
Nwosu Chima John is happily married and blessed with three children.
Before March 2025, Nwosu Chima John was a governorship aspirant for the Labour Party in Anambra State. By May, he joined ADC and replaced Patrick Obiano to become the governorship candidate for the African Democratic Congress.