INEC Unveils Final Candidate List, Kicks Off Campaign Season for 2025 Anambra Governorship Election

INEC Unveils Final Candidate List, Kicks Off Campaign Season for 2025 Anambra Governorship Election

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially published the final list of candidates contesting in the upcoming 2025 Anambra State Governorship Election, alongside the formal commencement of public campaign activities.

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According to a press release signed by Sam Olumekun, National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information & Voter Education Committee, a total of sixteen political parties met the Commission’s deadline of 6:00 p.m. on Monday, May 12, 2025, by submitting their candidates’ details via Form EC9. This step marks a significant milestone in the election timeline ahead of the scheduled poll date on Saturday, November 8, 2025.

INEC confirmed that the African Democratic Congress (ADC) conducted a fresh primary to replace its governorship candidate, while four other parties—Accord (A), African Action Congress (AAC), Labour Party (LP), and New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP)—substituted their deputy governorship candidates. The final window for such changes closed on Monday, June 2, 2025, in accordance with Section 33 of the Electoral Act, 2022.

Among notable statistics from the final candidate list:

2 of the 16 participating parties, AAC and the National Rescue Movement (NRM), have nominated female candidates for governor.
6 parties have chosen female running mates—Accord (A), APC, APP, Boot Party, LP, and ZLP.
Candidates’ ages range from 36 to 71.
No party has nominated a person with a disability.

The detailed profiles—including names, ages, genders, and academic qualifications—have been published on INEC’s official website and social media channels for public scrutiny.

With the final list published, INEC emphasized that no further substitutions or withdrawals would be allowed unless in the event of death, as stipulated in Section 34(1) of the Electoral Act.

Political parties are now officially permitted to begin campaign activities from Wednesday, June 11, 2025, with a strict deadline to conclude campaigns by midnight on Thursday, November 6, 2025.

INEC reminded all political actors of the legal framework guiding the conduct of campaigns. Sections 92 and 93 of the Electoral Act prohibit hate speech, physical violence, destruction of campaign materials, or any form of intimidation. Furthermore, Section 95(2) bans the misuse of incumbency or public resources to give undue advantage to any party or candidate.

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INDEPENDENT NATIONAL ELECTORAL COMMISSION

PRESS RELEASE

PUBLICATION OF THE FINAL LIST OF CANDIDATES AND COMMENCEMENT OF CAMPAIGN FOR THE 2025 ANAMBRA STATE GOVERNORSHIP ELECTION

The public may recall that the Commission recently published the personal particulars of candidates that emerged from primaries conducted by political parties for the forthcoming Anambra State Governorship election. A total of 16 Political Parties uploaded the particulars of their candidates (Form EC9) by the deadline of 6.00pm on Monday 12th May 2025.

In line with the provision of Section 33 of the Electoral Act 2022, Political Parties are empowered to replace their candidates who voluntarily withdraw from the race. Accordingly, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) conducted a fresh primary election to replace its candidate while four Political Parties replaced their Deputy Governorship candidates. They are Accord (A), African Action Congress (AAC), Labour Party (LP) and the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP). The deadline for the withdrawal and substitution of candidates was Monday 2nd June 2025.

Consequently, the Commission hereby publishes the final list of candidates that will contest in the 2025 Anambra State Governorship election.

Sixteen out of the 19 registered parties are participating in the election out of which the African Action Congress (AAC) and the National Rescue Movement (NRM) have nominated female candidates while six parties are fielding female running mates. They are Accord (A), All Progressives Congress (APC), Action Peoples Party (APP), Boot Party (BP), Labour Party (LP) and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP). No party has nominated a person with disability as a candidate. In terms of age, the candidates range between 36 and 71 years.

The full list of the candidates by party, age, gender and academic qualifications has been uploaded to our website and social media platforms for public information.

With this publication, no further withdrawal or replacement of candidates will be allowed except in the event of death of a candidate or running mate before Election Day as provided by Section 34(1) of the Electoral Act.

Commencement of Campaign

In line with the provision of Section 94(1) of the Electoral Act 2022, Political Parties are now at liberty to start their electioneering campaigns in public from Wednesday 11th June 2025 and end at midnight on Thursday 6th November 2025.

As enshrined in Sections 92 and 93 of the Electoral Act 2022, the Commission wishes to remind Political Parties, candidates and their supporters that it is unlawful to use abusive language, carry out physical attacks on opponents during rallies, processions and meetings or destroy their campaign materials.

Similarly, all parties and candidates must be given unimpeded access to public facilities for media campaign, outdoor advertising as well as public rallies and meetings. For the avoidance of doubt, Section 95(2) of the Electoral Act 2022 prohibits the use of incumbency to the advantage or disadvantage of any party or candidate.

The Anambra State Governorship election will hold on Saturday 8th November 2025.