13 Candidates Contesting For Anambra State Governorship Election
The state's incumbent governor, Willie Obiano of the All Progressives' Grand Alliance (APGA), will face stiff competition from Oseloka Obaze of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) and Tony Nwoye of the All Progressives' Congress (APC).
Uju Uchendu Ozoka of the Action Alliance (AA) is one of five women contesting for the state's highest political office. Others are Oby Kate Okafor of the Advanced Congress of Democrats (ACD), Adaeze Chizube Okafor of the Advanced Peoples Democratic Alliance (APDA), Praise Okechukwu of the Mega Progressive People's Party (MPPP), and Nnaemeka Ifeoma Ezibe of the Young Progressive Party (YPP).
Of all five, Ozoka is the only one with an all-female ticket with Theresa Nnalue as her running mate. With seven female running mates in total, there are 26 all-male contestants involved in the election.
With the average age of all 37 governorship candidates being 50 years, Ifeanyichukwu Okonkwo of the Action Democratic Party (ADP) is the oldest at 64.
The youngest candidates are Edochie Yul Chibuike of the Democratic People's Congress (DPC), Ndife Franklin Ikenna of the Independent Democratic (ID), Okafor Onyeka Christianof the Masses Movement Of Nigeria (MMN), and Ozoemena Nonso of the Young Democratic Party (YDP), all 35 years old.
Here is a list of all the candidates released by INEC:
1. Willie Obiano - All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA)
Obiano is the incumbent governor of Anambra state and had to overcome internal party politics to retain the APGA's ticket. He's also retained his deputy, Nkemakonam C. Okeke, as his running mate.
The 62-year-old is one of the election's biggest candidates. He's previously served as a United Nations (UN) diplomat and as Secretary to the State Government of Anambra State for three years under both former Governor Peter Obi and incumbent Governor Obiano.
3. Tony Nwoye - All Progressives' Congress (APC)
With the might of the presidential ruling party behind him, Nwoye is one of the biggest contenders backed to win the race.
The former president of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) failed in his last bid to become Anambra State governor with the PDP, as he came second.
His running mate is Dozie Ikedife Arinze.
4. Godwin Chukwunaenye Ezeemo - Progressive People's Alliance (PPA)
Ezeemo is the only major candidate from Anambra south and is considered strong enough to pull off an upset at the poll with his running mate, Prince Leonard Uchendu.
5. Osita Chidoka - United Progressive Party (UPP)
Chidoka is a former Minister of Aviation who is committed to transforming the public service in the state to meet the people's hopes and needs.
6. Uju Uchendu Ozoka - Action Alliance (AA)
The 48-year-old lawyer and publisher emerged as the AA's consensus candidate after her only opponent failed the party's screening exercise.
7. Oby Kate Okafor - Advanced Congress of Democrats (ACD)
Running on the promise to right the failure of the menfolk to deliver the dividends of democracy to the people, the Nollywood actress turned politician won her party's ticket uncontested and chose Onyekwuluje Chidi Uzoma as her running mate.
8. Akunwata Ejoh Ojiba - Alliance Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN)
The retired Customs Officer has been a vocal voice during the campaign and is one of the seven candidates with a female running mate in Ebele Onyinye Angel.
9. Paul Chukwudi Obianaso - African Democratic Congress (ADC)
The indigene of Oghalegbu in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra is also running for governor with Francis Amechi Agumadu as his running mate.
10. Ifeanyichukwu Okonkwo - Action Democratic Party (ADP)
At 64, the Nnobi native is the oldest candidate contesting the governorship election with Nnadozie Ndujekwu Ike as his running mate.
11. Adaeze Chizube Okafor - Advanced People's Democratic Alliance (APDA)
The graduate of Fine and Applied Arts from the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN) is another one of the five female candidates contesting the Anambra governorship election.
She defeated her rival during APDA's primaries, Izuegbu Chinedu Chima, by 390 to 3 votes. Her running mate is Oguejiofor Franklin.
12. Emmanuel Uchenna Nwibe - Democratic Alternative (DA)
Nwibe is contesting the governorship election with the youngest running mate on the ballot paper in Okpezune Nnaemeka Kingsley who is 28 years old.
13. Edochie Yul Chibuike - Democratic People's Congress (DPC)
Edochie is one of the most well-known candidates contesting the election as he's a Nollywood actor turned politician.
The Dramatic Arts graduate from the University of Port Harcourt is the son of veteran actor, Pete Edochie, and, as one of the youngest candidates, has vowed to bring an end to the old order of politics that has denied the common people the true dividends of democracy.
Okeke Oluchukwu is his running mate.
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