As Anambra barrels toward a pivotal 2025 governorship election, one name keeps rising above the rest: Valentine Ozigbo. With young voters gravitating toward the APC in search of relatable leadership and real solutions, Ozigbo has emerged as the party’s biggest draw—an aspirant whose clean image and grassroots appeal are reshaping the political landscape. Chukwudi Okafor reports from Awka on the man many believe holds the key to APC’s best shot at victory.
With Ndi Anambra growing increasingly frustrated by the ruling All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, and Governor Chukwuma Soludo‘s handling of the economy and security, a wave of young voters are yearning for change.
They are desperate to break with tradition and are turning to the All Progressives Congress, APC, in hopes of finding a candidate who resonates with their aspirations and can lead them to victory in the crucial Anambra Governorship election, set for the 8th of November 2025.
APC has a certain ideology and is approaching the Anambra 2025 elections with a clear agenda. While Ndi Anambra realize this, they are also concerned about the development of the state and local issues. They want a candidate who can address their problems, a candidate with character and relatability unlike the current governor.
On the other hand, the APC wants to field a candidate with a strong chance of winning, characterized by integrity and performance. An aspirant who possesses good qualities and a clean image is always welcome in the party.
APC needs that type of candidate who has a vision for the development of the state, who can lead the party to the forefront. I strongly recommend that the APC should rely on such an aspirant. Undoubtedly, a party may influence a candidate, but a voter gets influenced by the persona of a candidate.
I wondered what was drawing the young people to the APC in Anambra, and it turned out that it’s the prospect of Valentine Ozigbo as the APC candidate in the next election.
Valentine Ozigbo is the candidate who closely relates to the young people, being a young man himself. His VCO Foundation, his role as Chairman of Feet ‘n’ Tricks International, his avid love for and promotion of Freestyle Football, and his position as a board member of the prestigious WFFA (World Freestyle Football Association) also constantly keep him connected with the youth.
He is the only candidate who has been very vocal about the issues bedeviling Anambra and has been offering solutions to Soludo’s quasi-solution government through his #WakeUp media series.
The APC chieftain, Valentine Ozigbo’s polling momentum continues to chug along, with 65 percent of Ndi Anambra saying he’s the best choice to be Governor, according to a new local poll.
The percentage of respondents who think the APC chieftain is the best choice to become governor went up 9 points since March 2024 after Soludo’s three years in office, with 65 percent of respondents saying he’s the best choice to lead the Anambra state government.
On core issues facing Anambra around the economy, health care, and security, the poll found a plurality of Ndi Anambra think Valentine Ozigbo has the best plans across all three areas. If the APC candidate were chosen by popular vote, the 54-year-old former President of Transcorp would be the clear favorite.
Known for his direct, no-nonsense style, the PDP governorship candidate in the Anambra 2021 election has said he is keen to take on vested interests to drive growth through digitalization, overhaul Anambra’s economic policy, and bring a safer Anambra.
When you consider why Ndi Anambra feel the way they do right now, there’s real dissatisfaction with the direction of the state, particularly regarding the big issues on their personal agendas—security, jobs, health, etc.
Anambra voters have confidence in Valentine Ozigbo because they know he will never be persuaded or frightened by threats to his principles.
Anambra APC can no longer deny it. The most articulate aspirant is surging in the polls, the fiery leader set on burning Governor Soludo’s one-minute solutions to the ground, and is the favorite to win the state’s next election.
If we want to win the war, we need to pick a man who will lead us to victory, someone who can advocate for reform and is willing to tackle the system’s faults as he is already doing in the interest of our people.
Valentine Ozigbo appears to be building a winning coalition that bridges different parties in the state. The election will come late this year, and when that time comes, Soludo’s team shouldn’t be surprised if they’re the betting underdog.
A number of potential rivals to Valentine Ozigbo have emerged in APC and its a difficult road for the APC, but we must always go with the best option, even if it means deciding between several good options. We must make a choice based on what is best for
the people and our great party.
It is clear that if we conduct our checks and balances in a respectful and objective manner, Valentine Ozigbo is the best choice for the position. He has demonstrated remarkable leadership qualities and has the appropriate strategy in place for a greater victory. He is a selfless follower and a good listener. He has shown us how unselfish he is and how unorthodox a gentleman he is to lead us into the future.
Despite these facts, it is the APC that will make that choice. The enormous responsibility has been given to them. However, to win the Anambra 2025 governorship election, Valentine Ozigbo remains the biggest draw.
I have every confidence that Valentine Ozigbo will build a more prosperous Anambra, a more secure Anambra, and a more united Anambra.
Chukwudi Okafor is a political media professional. He writes from Awka.
The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the writer.
