APGA’s Strategic Gains Under Barr. Sylvester Ezeokenwa in 2025

 

APGA’S STRATEGIC GAINS UNDER BARR. SYLVESTER EZEOKENWA IN 2025

 

By Wole Adedoyin

 

In 2025, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) solidified its relevance in Nigerian partisan politics under the national leadership of Barrister Sylvester Ezeokenwa — a tenure underpinned by legal vindication, electoral victories, and strengthened party structures. Ezeokenwa’s position as the authentic National Chairman was confirmed by Nigeria’s Supreme Court, ending a protracted leadership dispute that had threatened to weaken the party’s cohesion and focus. The apex court ruled that Barr. Ezeokenwa was the lawful national chairman and set aside rival claims to the position, providing APGA with stable leadership at a crucial political moment.

 

This legal triumph was more than symbolic. The Supreme Court and other courts barred rival claimants from parading themselves as APGA leaders, directed INEC to restore Ezeokenwa as chairman, and thereby prevented internal factionalism from derailing the party’s national strategy. This court affirmation fortified APGA’s national image and ensured organisational readiness for the 2025 electoral calendar.

 

With the leadership crisis resolved, APGA mobilised effectively for a series of key by-elections in 2025, most notably in Anambra State — the party’s stronghold. In August 2025, the party scored significant legislative victories in both a Senatorial by-election and a House of Assembly contest. In the Anambra South Senatorial District, APGA’s Emmanuel Chibuzor Nwachukwu won a hard-fought contest, amassing over 90,000 votes and defeating candidates from the All Progressives Congress (APC) and other parties.

 

On the same day, APGA also secured a victory in the Onitsha North I State Constituency for the Anambra State House of Assembly. APGA’s candidate Ifeoma Azikiwe emerged triumphant, defeating challengers from rival parties and reinforcing APGA’s legislative footprint at the state level. These wins demonstrated not only the party’s organisational muscle in its home state but also its appeal in competitive democratic contests.

 

Collectively, these by-election victories represented a consolidation of APGA’s political presence in the National Assembly and the Anambra State legislature, enhancing the party’s ability to influence legislative processes and advocate for the developmental priorities of its constituents.

 

APGA’s influence was most vividly displayed in the November 8, 2025 Anambra State Governorship Election, where Professor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, running on the APGA platform, won a landslide re-election victory. According to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Soludo polled 422,664 votes, overwhelmingly defeating his closest rival, APC’s Nicholas Ukachukwu, who scored 99,445 votes. Soludo’s victory spanned all 21 local government areas of Anambra State — a historic and emphatic affirmation of the party’s dominance.

 

The magnitude of Soludo’s win — secured with more than 70 percent of the total votes cast and decisive coverage across nearly all electoral wards — underscored APGA’s resonance with the electorate in Anambra. Party leaders described the outcome as a reaffirmation of the confidence that Ndi Anambra place in APGA’s governance and vision, particularly given Soludo’s reform agenda and service delivery during his first term.

 

In his victory remarks and subsequent celebratory events, Governor Soludo thanked the people of Anambra for renewing their mandate, promising to build on his administration’s achievements in infrastructure, education, healthcare, and economic development. Observers and party stalwarts interpreted this mandate as a clear endorsement of performance-based leadership and continuity.

Beyond securing the governorship, APGA’s performance in the legislative by-elections and gubernatorial polls inevitably boosted the party’s national profile. APGA demonstrated that it could weather internal challenges and still deliver substantial electoral outcomes — a message that resonated with its supporters and positioned the party as an influential force in Nigeria’s multiparty democracy.

 

Under Ezeokenwa’s stewardship in 2025, APGA also focused on grassroots mobilisation, strengthening its state and federal chapters, and engaging young voters through policy messaging that emphasised development, unity, and accountability. These activities contributed to the party’s strategic capacity to compete in fiercely contested electoral terrain.

 

In sum, the year 2025 marked a turning point for the All Progressives Grand Alliance. The party overcame internal strife through a critical court victory, secured key legislative seats in Anambra, and achieved a sweeping governorship victory — thereby consolidating its hold on its core constituency and enhancing its relevance in national politics. As APGA positions itself for future contests and broader national engagement, these achievements under Barr. Sylvester Ezeokenwa’s leadership offer a foundation for sustained growth and impact within Nigeria’s democratic landscape.

 

Wole Adedoyin is the Caretaker Chairman of APGA in Osun State. Secretary of APGA’s Publicity Committee and the Senior Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the APGA National Chairman.