Onitsha North Constituency 1: The Election That’s Already Decided
Saturday’s Onitsha North Constituency 1 election is not about party manifestos, promises, or even the candidates’ personal stories. It is Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo’s contest, and he is contesting it through Mimiy Ikpeazu, whether her name is on the ballot or not.
APGA currently controls about 16 seats out of 30 in the Anambra State House of Assembly, and with three YPP members working quietly in their corner, Soludo has a working majority. But political power is never about having just enough; it is about securing every possible leverage point. This seat in Onitsha North carries symbolic weight.
It is Soludo asserting control in the commercial nerve of the state and reminding market leaders, political actors, and power brokers that Onitsha remains under his influence.
Mimiy Ikpeazu is not simply another APGA candidate; she is the political channel Soludo is using to defend his Onitsha base. She is not running alone—she is backed by the full reach of the governor’s political machinery. In Anambra politics, that machinery means ward mobilisers, market unions, transport associations, youth leaders, and the behind-the-scenes negotiations that shift allegiances before polling day.
Even if thousands of Peter Obi loyalists were to descend on Onitsha North on election day, the local political structure is not only intact, it is firmly secured.
From the perspective of those who have worked for Honourable Azuka’s widow, the ADC candidate, the situation is disheartening. Efforts have been made—strategising, campaigning, and raising funds—but the outcome appears predetermined. It is not a question of popularity or personal story; decisions and alignments were made long before the campaign began.
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The advice now is for her to keep the limited campaign funds contributed by supporters. While she will likely receive sympathy votes, they are unlikely to overcome the entrenched structures already in place for APGA.
In Onitsha, APGA is not just a political party; it operates as the prevailing environment. The local networks, last-minute political manoeuvres, and the advantages of incumbency are all aligned in Soludo’s favour. He holds sway over the political actors in the city and is using this election as a demonstration of his control.
For supporters of Azuka’s widow, the likely outcome is clear: the election will not go in their favour. This is not due to a lack of effort but because they are facing a governor skilled in securing local victories when they matter most.
Before a single ballot is cast, political insiders widely agree that APGA is positioned to win, and win convincingly.