Aspirants, chieftains back Ganduje’s consensus candidate proposal ahead of Anambra poll
Ahead of the November 8, 2025 governorship election in Anambra State, some aspirants and chieftains of the All Progressives Congress in the state have welcomed the proposal of the party’s National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje, to pick a consensus candidate without necessarily conducting a primary.
The stakeholders also dispelled the fear that the heightened insecurity in the state could force the ruling party to call off the poll.
Ganduje had last Tuesday hinted that the party would prefer presenting its Anambra governorship ticket to a consensus candidate than having an unpopular candidate run for the election.
Ganduje equally pledged to present an award to Anambra APC if they could be united and produce a consensus candidate to avoid the stress and the financial jamboree that comes with holding the conventional primary election to elect a candidate.
The former Kano State governor said this when he hosted an APC support group known as Booth 2 Booth with Bola Tinubu at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja.
While assuring them that his leadership would ensure a fair and credible primary election in Anambra, Ganduje further warned aspirants jostling for the ticket not to throw the state into chaos.
Reacting on Sunday, a businessman and Chairman of United Nigeria Airlines, Prof Obiora Okonkwo, backed the call for a consensus candidate ahead of the November governorship election.
Okonkwo, who is one of the frontline aspirants jostling for the sole ticket, said he welcomed the idea of a consensus candidate for the party and would be willing to support the candidate that emerges.
He spoke to our correspondent on the telephone through his media aide, Chibuike Uloka.
He said, “Certainly! Prof. Obiora Okonkwo welcomes the idea of a consensus candidate for the party and is willing to support the party and the candidate that emerges.
“He has always maintained that the party must be strategic and intentional going into the election to ensure victory for the party at the November polls.
“For the party to win, it must remain united after the primaries, and the idea of a consensus is the hallmark of internal mechanism and party unity.”
Other prominent aspirants vying for the party’s ticket include Sir Paul Chukwuma and Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu, among others.
Also speaking to our correspondent, the Publicity Secretary of the party in Anambra, Okelo Madukaife, stated that Ganduje’s idea was a welcome development and should not be reviewed.
“Are we supposed to be reviewing what the National Chairman of our great party has said? The national chairman has spoken and what he said should be adopted for the good of the party,” Madukaife added.
Another stalwart of the party, Chief Ben Ude, urged all the aspirants to support the call by the party chairman so that the party will be strongly repositioned to wrest power from the incumbent All Progressives Grand Alliance in the November governorship poll.
“The chairman of our great party is making a good suggestion. Experience has shown that party primaries are always won according to how much money aspirants can pay to the delegates.
“This has, over the years, continued to prevent or deny the right candidate from emerging. However, if a consensus arrangement can be agreed upon, we all know the strengths of every aspirant based on their past antecedents.
“Again, a consensus candidate will reduce litigation and create a peaceful and harmonious atmosphere for the party going into the election. Therefore, we urge the aspirants to back the call by the chairman for a consensus candidate,” Ude added.
When contacted, the APC National Vice Chairman (South East), Dr Ijeoma Arodiogbu, told The PUNCH that a consensus candidate was one of the options they were exploring.
Arodiogbu, however, said the party hierarchy was still consulting before reaching a conclusion.
He said, “We are consulting to see the most peaceful way to get a candidate that others will back and line up behind. So the idea of a consensus candidate might be an option.
“We are looking at the best way to get a candidate that others will support.”
On whether it is safe to conduct an election in Anambra in the face of the lingering insecurity challenges plaguing the South-East, the APC nodded.
“Of course, it is safe. There is insecurity everywhere in Nigeria. Every geopolitical zone has its own share. It is happening in every region, including the North Central and the Federal Capital Territory.
“So, nobody can say insecurity is a reason why we can’t hold an election in Anambra. The Federal Government is taking a lot of measures to bring security to Anambra State. I believe by November 8, Anambra will be calm and peaceful enough to conduct the election,” he stated.
The Deputy National Organising Secretary of the APC, Nze Chidi Duru also shared his sentiment.
Duru also assured that settling for a consensus candidate does not connote that other aspirants are weak or unpopular.
He said, “That (consensus) is what we are working towards and I am happy that it is receiving recommendations on anything with the rank and file of the party. That also goes to show the level of hard work that was done in the recent past and up to this moment to ensure we do not have an all-comers affair buying form just for the purpose of becoming an aspirant within the party.
“For those who believe that unless they become an aspirant, they will not be recognized, noticed, or compensated. Our assurances to them have been that we would, in the way we’ve worked, reach every party member at their point of need.
“Their recognition is dependent on the work that you do or you’re going to do to ensure that you clinch for the party, the exalted office in Anambra State. And that is resonating along the rank and file within the party.”
However, a party leader in Anambra and former Secretary, Chief Marcel Okoro, disagreed with the idea of a consensus candidate
Okoro raised concerns that adopting a consensus candidate will not prevent the best candidate from emerging.
The party chieftain, therefore, appealed to the APC leadership to create a level playing field devoid of money spending during the primaries.
“Going for a consensus candidate may not be the best idea as it will prevent the best candidate from emerging. For instance, the aspirants who recently joined the party may not get favourable treatment if a consensus arrangement is adopted.
“The primaries should be conducted with the party ensuring it provides a level playing ground for all the aspirants. It is only through that means that the best candidate emerges.
“Again, the party should ensure that a mechanism is put in place to ensure money politics does not take the shine away from the process. We need to bring out our best candidate,” Okoro pleaded.
