BY TONY OKAFOR
As the whistle for the November 8, 2025 showdown draws near, the Anambra governorship race remains wide open—no goals, no trophy, no winner.
Anyone claiming victory now is dancing before the final whistle. And that is a dangerous illusion.
In recent weeks, some political camps have erupted in premature celebration, buoyed by talk of federal “blessings” or whispered ties to powerful backers.
Let us be clear: such talk is not only misleading—it insults the intelligence of Anambra voters.
Elections are not handed out. They are earned.
Right now, this contest is a dead heat. No candidate has the crown. The pitch is still level, and the scoreboard reads 0-0. Politics, like football, is never over until it is over.
Anambra is no stranger to political shocks. Peter Obi demonstrated this in 2003 when he upended the status quo and rewrote the script.
The people are savvy, watchful, and unpredictable.
Public mood can shift overnight. A single misstep can sink a frontrunner. A well-timed surge can catapult an underdog to victory.
This is no time for complacency. Candidates must get back to the trenches—not to gloat, but to grind.
They must sell their vision, not peddle arrogance. Voters want substance, not swagger.
Campaigns should be anchored in clear, actionable ideas—on jobs, education, security, health, infrastructure, and youth empowerment.
What Anambra needs now is not noise or name-dropping, but bold, workable plans.
Candidates must ditch divisive rhetoric. No more sectional cards, empty promises, or propaganda warfare. What we need is leadership that unites, not slogans that divide.
Let us not forget—political history is full of humbled favourites and rising dark horses. The so-called “frontline” status means nothing without real connection to the people.
INEC answers to the law, not to individuals. And Anambra voters answer to their conscience, not to coercion.
With less than five months to go, the message is simple: stay focused, stay humble, and campaign like the race is still neck and neck—because it is.
Let every aspirant speak with purpose, not entitlement. Let them campaign as contenders, not as kings-in-waiting.
The people of Anambra will decide—at the ballot box.
Until then, let it be known: nobody has won. The race is still 50-50.
