#AnambraDecides2025: LP's George Moghalu Loses Polling Unit To APGA's Soludo

It was meant to be a triumphant homecoming for George Moghalu — the Labour Party’s governorship candidate in the 2025 Anambra election — but when the ballot boxes were opened and the votes counted at Polling Unit 017, Uruagu Ward 1, Nnewi North Local Government Area, the figures told a different story. In what observers have described as a symbolic blow to his campaign, the former federal executive and long-time political heavyweight lost his own polling unit to the incumbent governor, Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo, of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

The numbers were clear and unforgiving. Out of 86 accredited voters out of a total 463 registered, Soludo’s APGA polled 57 votes, leaving Moghalu’s Labour Party trailing far behind with 22 votes. The All Progressives Congress (APC) managed just 5 votes, while one ballot was declared invalid. For a candidate who had projected himself as the face of a “new Anambra,” the result was a bitter pill to swallow — particularly because it came from his home turf, where he had expected a commanding lead.

A Battle on Familiar Soil

Nnewi North, Moghalu’s home local government area, has always been a crucial political battleground in Anambra elections. As a commercial hub and the birthplace of some of the state’s most prominent political figures, Nnewi often sets the tone for broader voting patterns in the region. For Moghalu, who has built his political career over three decades, including serving as a top official in the federal government and the ruling All Progressives Congress before defecting to the Labour Party, victory in his polling unit was supposed to be a statement of personal credibility and local loyalty.

Instead, the result exposed what some analysts have described as “a political disconnect” between the candidate and the electorate at home. “It’s not just about numbers,” one local political observer told reporters. “It’s about perception. When a candidate loses his own polling unit, it raises questions about grassroots acceptance and the structure of his campaign.”

The loss was even more striking given that Moghalu’s campaign had heavily targeted the Nnewi axis as a supposed stronghold. His team had touted his deep roots in the community and emphasized his record in public service as reasons for local support. Yet, as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials completed their count and the figures were projected on the board, murmurs rippled through the small crowd gathered around the polling center. The atmosphere, which had earlier been charged with anticipation, fell silent as the numbers confirmed what many had begun to suspect during the collation process — APGA had carried the day, even on Moghalu’s home soil.

Soludo’s Strategic Sweep

For Governor Charles Soludo and his party, APGA, the victory at Uruagu Ward 1 was not just a statistical win; it was a psychological one. Soludo, seeking a second term, has faced mounting criticism over his administration’s handling of the state economy and insecurity. Yet, the APGA machine — known for its deep grassroots mobilization — has remained formidable across key local governments, particularly in the South and Central senatorial zones.

APGA’s ability to penetrate Nnewi North, traditionally a volatile voting bloc, underscores the depth of Soludo’s reach and the enduring influence of the party’s structures built over two decades. The win also serves as a symbolic vindication for the governor, who has often been accused by his critics of losing touch with the ordinary voter. “Soludo’s political playbook is sophisticated,” one campaign insider revealed. “He understands the psychology of local politics — mixing technocratic governance with cultural diplomacy. That’s how he managed to win over even those who were skeptical of his policies.”

Indeed, APGA’s presence in Nnewi has grown subtly but steadily since Soludo assumed office in 2022. The party’s network of ward mobilizers and community leaders has proven to be its biggest asset, often outperforming parties that rely solely on media campaigns and high-profile endorsements.

A Reflection of Labour Party’s Challenges

For the Labour Party, Moghalu’s defeat at his polling unit adds to growing concerns about the party’s ability to convert its populist momentum into electoral victories at the subnational level. Since its unprecedented surge in the 2023 general elections, powered largely by youth enthusiasm and the “Obidient” movement, the LP has struggled to establish a durable political structure in many states.

Moghalu’s campaign had sought to present him as a reform-minded technocrat who could translate the ideals of the Labour Party into practical governance. Yet, insiders admit that the campaign suffered from internal fractures, limited funding, and a lack of strong polling unit coordinators. “The Labour Party in Anambra is still learning how to organize beyond social media and urban rhetoric,” a senior campaign official said on condition of anonymity. “George Moghalu is a credible candidate, but politics here still runs on structure — people want to see who is on the ground, not just who is trending.”

Observers also point out that voter turnout at the polling unit — only 86 out of 463 registered voters — reflects a deeper problem of voter apathy and disenchantment, a trend consistent across many parts of the state. “When the majority stay home, it’s the party with stronger mobilization that benefits,” noted a local election monitor.

The Symbolism of a Local Defeat

Losing one’s polling unit is more than a numerical loss in Nigerian politics — it is symbolic. It often becomes the focal point for political rivals to question a candidate’s grassroots legitimacy. Within hours of the results being announced, APGA supporters in Nnewi celebrated the outcome, describing it as “a vote of confidence in Soludo’s leadership.”

Political commentators have also drawn parallels to previous elections where major candidates lost in their own backyards — a reminder that local loyalty in Nigerian politics is often unpredictable. “This is a wake-up call for Moghalu,” said Dr. Ifeanyi Okonkwo, a political analyst at Nnamdi Azikiwe University. “It doesn’t mean he’s out of the race, but it shows that sentiment alone cannot win elections. Groundwork, alliances, and local structures still matter.”

What Comes Next

While the overall results from the Anambra governorship election are still being collated, the outcome at Uruagu Ward 1 has already become one of the most talked-about moments of the poll. For Moghalu, it’s a personal setback — but not necessarily a terminal one. Analysts believe that how he responds in the coming days will determine whether the narrative solidifies as a sign of weakness or becomes a rallying point for redemption.

For Soludo and APGA, the result strengthens their claim of continued dominance in Anambra politics, suggesting that despite mounting challenges, the party’s deep roots and grassroots structures remain intact.

As night fell over Nnewi, the tension gave way to reflection. For the voters of Polling Unit 017, it was just another day in Nigeria’s democratic exercise. But for the candidates — especially George Moghalu — it was a stark reminder that in politics, even home ground can become hostile territory when the winds of public sentiment shift.