Anambra State

Anambra State has a unique political culture dominated by the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) rather than the national two-party system. Governor Charles Soludo, an economist and former CBN governor, leads the state with a technocratic agenda focused on infrastructure, security, and human capital development. The political climate is relatively stable, with high citizen engagement and a tradition of competitive but generally peaceful elections. Unlike many states, Anambra has not experienced violent post-election crises in recent cycles.

Anambra consistently ranks among the best-governed states in Nigeria, with governance approval (61%) well above the national average. The state has the lowest poverty rate in the South-East at approximately 15%, a thriving commercial sector centred on Onitsha and Nnewi, and the highest literacy rate in the country at around 92%. Its security situation has improved dramatically from the turbulence of the early 2020s, though challenges remain. Anambra's GDP of approximately ₦4.9 trillion is impressive for a state of its small size, reflecting the efficiency of its market-driven economy.

Despite strong commercial activity, Anambra faces infrastructure deficits including poor road conditions outside Awka and Onitsha, limited power supply that constrains manufacturing, and flooding challenges in riverine communities like Ogbaru. The state is heavily reliant on trade and SMEs rather than large-scale industry, making it vulnerable to national economic shocks such as naira devaluation. Youth unemployment among graduates remains a concern despite the state's entrepreneurial culture, and land scarcity limits agricultural expansion.

Security has been a defining issue in Anambra politics, particularly during the IPOB-related sit-at-home disruptions and associated violence of 2021-2023. Governor Soludo's administration has invested heavily in security, including the establishment of the Agunechemba security outfit and community vigilante networks. Security perception has improved significantly, from a low of 34% in 2022 to 64% in mid-2026. The governor's personal security summits and direct engagement with community leaders have been credited with the turnaround, though occasional incidents still occur in rural areas.

Anambra State records some of the highest voter turnout rates in the South-East, typically achieving 35% to 45% in governorship elections and 30% to 40% in presidential elections. The November 2021 governorship election saw particularly high turnout despite security concerns. Voter engagement is driven by the state's educated population, strong civil society tradition, and the intensity of local political competition. Anambra voters are known for their political sophistication and tendency to punish underperforming incumbents regardless of party affiliation.

NigeriaPolls conducts face-to-face interviews across Anambra's 21 Local Government Areas, with particular attention to the three major urban centres — Onitsha, Awka, and Nnewi. Our Igbo-speaking field teams understand local dialectal variations (including Onitsha, Awka, and Nnewi dialects) and follow strict quality control protocols including back-checking and GPS verification of interview locations. Samples are weighted by LGA population, gender, age, and urban/rural distribution to ensure representativeness.