Anambra Political Tsunami Loading As APC Strengthens Position with New Members

Set To Officially Receive Senator Dr Ifeanyi Ubah, Senator Dr Uche Ekwunife and Several Others This Saturday.



The Anambra State chapter of the All Progressives Congress – APC has been the centre of attention to keen political observers for weeks. Since Senator Ifeanyi Ubah declared his interest to join the party, the fact is that the stake has remained high, forcing many to have a rethink. For the time being, it is obvious that APC is a major factor in the next Anambra State governorship election in about two years' time. Little wonder the last weeks have seen the ruling APGA and APC in the forefront of exchanges on serious governance issues in Anambra State. Yet, it is obvious that the APC is not done. Since Senator Ifeanyi Ubah declared his intention to join the party, it is no longer business as usual.

This weekend, the Anambra State APC is expected to receive new members into its fold in another major boost, which even positions the APC more, for a very focused and unrelenting push for Southeast alliance. Right now, APC is the majority party in the Southeast with two states under its control. APGA, PDP, and LP have one state each, while APC has two states. In simple terms, it is no longer correct to say that Southeast doesn’t like or won’t vote for APC. Ahead of the 2025 Anambra State governorship election, this will also be put to test. So far, the APC seems to be ahead in terms o f strategic planning and execution and these are consequential to the extent that sustained focus in that direction would place APC Anambra in the front of the race for the next Anambra governor.

A look at the configuration of the Anambra political landscape shows that Senator Ifeanyi Ubah is already in a good position in the Anambra South zone, with a fair spread across other zones. In the North, some alliances and goodwill can easily put APC in a vantage position that will be difficult to dismantle. But for most people, the challenge is Anambra Central because of the conventional power rotation and, in which instance, Anambra Central is expected to produce the next governor o f the state in 2029. But again, with a strong support base and alliance in the Central, APC will have a good outing in that senatorial zone. This is part of why it matters that Senator Uche Ekwunife is joining APC this weekend. Senator Uche Ekwunife is a tried and tested politician with enormous goodwill. Senator Uche is grounded in the politics of Anambra Central and still enjoys massive support within the Anambra Central senatorial zone. With this development, the APC would have a good outing in Anambra Central. In fact, if the party is able to recruit more hands in Anambra Central, the party might as well go beyond doing well in the next governorship election to actually having a serious good outing. Already, there are good, young, and viable hands from the senatorial zone. Before now, they played opposition to Senator Uche Ekwunife. A joint force will definitely confer some serious advantage, and this is just impossible to deny.

Importantly, the Idemili axis of Anambra Central zone is known to be an opposition enclave. In the 2023 general election, Idemili North and South federal constituency fell to opposition. The state constituencies were divided between opposition and the ruling party. Historically, Idemili North and South local governments have some of the highest voting strength in the state, and they are opposition strongholds, particularly Idemili North LGA. Experienced politicians in Anambra Central senatorial zone know how to activate these structures and cause major damage for the opposition. These are part of what a skilled politician like Uche Ekwunife is bringing to the table for the APC.

When we take into cognizance that the governorship election in Anambra State, is still in two years time, and the APC is showing such unprecedented strength and courage and focus, it is something that points to the party’s readiness to a real shot at the Anambra State Government House.

However, one may choose to see the APC in Anambra State right now. It is a political reality that the convergence of people with serious and tested political value and goodwill can not be dismissed. Senator Uche Ekwunife, definitely, is one of the best new entrants into the APC, and her entry simply points to the party’s determination for a solemn contest.