The race for the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) ticket in the forthcoming Anambra South Senatorial by-election has effectively narrowed to three leading aspirants, with Chief Ebuka Onunkwo, Chairman and CEO of Sea Horse Industries, emerging as the frontrunner.
The mock electoral process supervised by Anambra State Governor, Prof. Charles Soludo has significantly shaped the party’s internal dynamics ahead of the official primary.
The exercise, resembling an Electoral College-style primary, was conducted with the participation of six out of the seven local government party chairmen in the senatorial district.
In the preliminary voting by party chairmen, Onunkwo secured three votes, Hon. Paschal Agbodike received two, and Emma Nwachukwu garnered one. The chairman from Orumba North Local Government Area abstained from the process.
This exercise followed Governor Soludo’s earlier advice to the six aspirants to engage in a conclave to select a consensus candidate.
However, the outcome of that meeting remains inconclusive. Before the mock election, Hon. Agbodike presented a purported endorsement resolution, allegedly signed by all seven local government chairmen, proclaiming his candidacy.
Governor Soludo, however, dismissed the document and insisted on a transparent voting process in his presence.
The Governor convened a decisive meeting in Abuja attended by the aspirants, all seven local government party chairmen, and the seven executive mayors of the senatorial district.
In a move aimed at fostering unity and avoiding intra-party rancour, the Governor urged aspirants to vote for one another excluding themselves invoking the Igbo philosophy of “Be Your Brother’s Keeper.”
That aspirant-to-aspirant vote produced a symbolic tie,each aspirant received one vote, except Agbodike, who received none. Nwachukwu received an additional vote, bringing his total to two.
Subsequently, voting resumed among the local government chairmen and mayors 13 in total, as one mayor was absent. At the conclusion of the second round:
Chief Ebuka Onunkwo received 5 votes,Hon. Paschal Agbodike secured 4 votes,Emma Nwachukwu got 2 votes and Mr. Ubajiaka also received 2 votes
When all votes including those from the aspirants’ round were tallied, Onunkwo emerged with a cumulative total of 6 votes, placing him in clear lead.
This process has effectively confirmed, at least informally, the candidate most likely to receive the APGA nomination. However, Governor Soludo made it clear that while the outcome serves as a “working document,” it is not yet the party’s final position.
The Governor retains the authority to make the ultimate decision regarding the party’s flagbearer.
In a politically significant development, it was also resolved during the meeting that whoever emerges as the APGA candidate will not be eligible to contest the 2027 senatorial election, as part of a broader effort to institutionalize zoning arrangements within the district.
This move, if followed through, may help APGA manage future power rotations and reduce perennial intra-party conflicts.
The recent developments have effectively eliminated several aspirants from contention, including Patrick Ubajiaka, Hon. Chuka Mouma, Akai Egwuonwu, and others who entered the race during the nomination window but failed to make the top tier.
Nonetheless, a high-level source at Government House cautioned against assuming the outcome is final:”It is not a done deal. The Governor may still opt for someone outside the top three. Though it is unlikely, considering the process happened right in front of him, only the Governor knows his final move,he is keeping his cards close to his chest.”
With the official APGA nomination imminent, all eyes now turn to Governor Soludo as he prepares to make a critical decision that could reshape the political landscape of Anambra South and possibly the future trajectory of APGA in the state.
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