The All Progressives Grand Alliance has cleared chairmanship aspirants across all 21 local government areas of Anambra State to contest its primaries, setting the stage for the party’s candidates in the August 29 council elections.
The list, released Sunday at the party’s state secretariat in Awka, followed the completion of screening processes in line with party guidelines, according to a statement by National Publicity Secretary Dr. Ejimofor Opara.
The Cleared Aspirants
Among those cleared to contest the primaries are:
· Aguata: Kingsley Ezeagu
· Anambra East: Ifeanyi Chinweze
· Anambra West: Tony Obierika
· Anaocha: Paulinus Okafor
· Awka North: ThankGod Anago
· Awka South: Chinedu Okafor
Aspirants from the remaining 15 local government areas were also cleared, though the party did not release a full public list of all names.
Opara said all cleared aspirants “successfully met the requirements necessary to participate in the forthcoming primaries.”
The Timeline
The primaries are scheduled for February 15, with an appeals window on February 16, ahead of the August 29 council polls. The party reiterated its commitment to conducting transparent and credible primaries.
“We urge party members and supporters to maintain unity and abide by party rules throughout the electioneering period,” Opara said.
What’s at Stake
The August 29 local government elections will determine who controls council administrations across Anambra’s 21 LGAs. APGA currently holds the majority of council seats and is working to maintain its dominance in a state where it also controls the governorship.
Other political parties are expected to release their candidate lists in the coming weeks as preparations intensify ahead of the polls.
For APGA, the primaries represent the first major test of party unity since the November 2025 governorship election that returned Governor Chukwuma Soludo to power. How smoothly the process unfolds will signal whether the party can maintain cohesion as it heads into another election cycle.
Next Steps
Cleared aspirants will now campaign across their local government areas ahead of the February 15 primaries. Party members will vote to select the candidates who will fly APGA’s flag in August.
The party’s ability to conduct primaries without major disputes will be closely watched. In previous election cycles, post-primary grievances have led to internal divisions and legal battles that weakened APGA’s performance in general elections.
For now, the party says it is focused on unity and transparency. Whether that holds through the primaries remains to be seen.
