PDP’s Fading Presence Casts Doubt on Its Role in Anambra’s 2025 Governorship Race

As political parties gear up for the Anambra State governorship election slated for November 8, 2025, a once-dominant player in the state’s political landscape, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), appears to be conspicuously absent from the fray. Historically a powerhouse in Anambra politics, the PDP’s current struggles signal a dramatic decline that could see it sidelined in the upcoming contest.

In the 2021 governorship election, the PDP boasted an impressive lineup of 10 aspirants, including prominent figures like Hon Uche Ekwunife, Prof. Obiora Okonkwo, Hon Chris Azugbogu, Mr Winston Udeh, Mr Valentine Ozigbo, Mrs Chidi Onyemelukwe, Hon Ifedi Okwenna, Hon Tony Nwoye, Mr Walter Okeke, and Mr Godwin Ezeemo. This roster featured some of the state’s wealthiest and most influential politicians, raising expectations that the party could challenge the ruling All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA). The primary election, held at the Prof Dora Akunyili Women’s Development Centre, was a spectacle of power struggles that reverberated across the state. Valentine Ozigbo emerged victorious in what many viewed as a fair process, though dissenting aspirants cried foul, alleging internal manipulation.

That primary marked the beginning of the PDP’s unraveling in Anambra. Disgruntled aspirants and their supporters defected to other parties, severely weakening the PDP’s structure. The exodus contributed to its defeat in 2021, and the party has since struggled to regain its footing. Fast forward to 2025, and the PDP’s prospects look bleak. With the deadline for purchasing nomination and expression of interest forms now passed, only one aspirant, Hon. Jude Ezenwafor, has stepped forward. Described by insiders as a little-known proxy, possibly fronting for an APC contender preparing a fallback option, Ezenwafor’s candidacy underscores the party’s diminished stature.

A recent visit to the PDP secretariat in Awka’s Udoka Housing Estate revealed a stark contrast to the bustling campaign hubs of rival parties. Overgrown weeds and dust-covered furniture paint a picture of neglect, reflecting the party’s waning relevance. Sources attribute this decline to a combination of internal crises, dwindling popularity at both state and national levels, and the steep N40 million price tag for nomination forms—a sum few are willing to risk on a faltering platform. “No one in their right senses will dole out N40 million to purchase PDP forms,” a party member lamented, hinting at Ezenwafor’s candidacy as a strategic placeholder rather than a genuine bid.

Despite the gloom, the state chairman, Chief Chidi Chidebe, who assumed office in November 2024, remains optimistic. In an interview, he outlined efforts to revive the party, including outreach to aggrieved members in cities like Lagos, Abuja, Enugu, and Port Harcourt. “We have reached them… Are they all back? No, but this is a process,” Chidebe said, emphasizing a gradual rebuilding effort. He highlighted the establishment of five standing committees—grassroots mobilization, policy development, media, and others—plus an elders committee, all inaugurated in February 2025 after extensive stakeholder consultations. These initiatives aim to unify the party and re-engage its base, but their impact remains uncertain with time running short.

Chidebe insists the PDP will field a credible candidate, though he refrained from naming potential contenders. “Beam your searchlight well, and you will see the people coming out from our political party,” he urged, promising a focus on electable figures who can rebuild rather than disrupt. Yet, the party’s challenges are compounded by a recent Supreme Court ruling on its National Secretary position, with conflicting celebrations from Senator Samuel Anyanwu and the party leadership affirming SKE Ude-Okoye, further exposing internal divisions.

Meanwhile, the PDP has become a target of mockery among Anambra’s youth, some of whom have taken to designing satirical posters posing as candidates begged to run on the party’s ticket. “PDP has squandered its goodwill,” one anonymous youth remarked, noting the migration of its heavyweights to the APC. As the 2025 election nears, the PDP’s erstwhile dominance seems a distant memory, leaving its role in Anambra’s political future hanging in the balance.