Two weeks after the Anambra governorship election, the results continue to generate discussion. The Labour Party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, lost his polling unit in the exercise. The All Progressives Grand Alliance candidate, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, won the election, with the APC candidate coming in second.
In Obi’s polling unit in Agulu, Anaocha Local Government Area, the APC candidate, Nicholas Ukachukwu, secured 73 votes, while the Labour Party scored 57 votes. This outcome has sparked reactions, with some questioning Obi’s popularity. However, others argue that Obi’s popularity remains intact, noting that he was not on the ballot for the governorship election.
Before the election, Obi had openly endorsed the Labour Party’s candidate, George Moghalu, and campaigned for him on social media and on the streets of Anambra. The Obidient Movement Coordinator, Tanko, had also stated that the movement’s structures were in place across the state. Despite this support, the Labour Party’s candidate did not perform well in the election.
The APC in Lagos State has urged Obi to forget about the 2027 presidential election, citing his failure to win his polling unit as a sign of weakness. The party’s spokesman, Seye Oladejo, questioned how Obi could rule Nigeria when he could not win in his own polling unit.
However, Barrister Emma Ibediro, a former National Organising Secretary of the APC, has downplayed the significance of Obi’s loss, stating that Obi himself was not on the ballot and therefore his popularity was not being tested. Ibediro argued that Obi’s focus is on a higher office and that his popularity will be tested when he is on the ballot.
The outcome of the election has also generated reactions on social media, with some users questioning Obi’s influence and popularity. Others have defended Obi, noting that he was not a candidate in the election and that his popularity will be tested in future elections. The debate surrounding Obi’s popularity and influence is likely to continue, particularly in the lead-up to the 2027 presidential election.
