INEC eecognizes Moghalu as LP’s Anambra guber candidate

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially recognized Chief George Moghalu as the Labour Party (LP) governorship candidate for the upcoming November 8, 2025, Anambra State election, affirming the authority of Barrister Julius Abure as the party’s National Chairman.

Moghalu, a former managing director of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), emerged from the Abure-led faction of the party after securing 573 votes to defeat his only challenger, John Nwosu, who garnered just 19 votes at the party’s primary held on April 5, 2025, at Finotel Hotel in Awka.

The exercise was duly monitored by INEC officials and independent observers, with a total of 649 delegates, 601 accredited, and 592 valid votes, alongside five invalid ballots.

Following INEC’s publication of Moghalu’s name as the official candidate, the Labour Party’s verified X (formerly Twitter) handle issued a congratulatory message, praising both Moghalu’s emergence and the Abure leadership:

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“Heartfelt congratulations to Chief Dr. George Moghalu on this historic victory! May your leadership and vision propel Anambra State to new heights… Kudos to Barr Julius Abure and his entire team for this victory. The Labour Party is marching forward with strength and determination. EluPee forward ever, backward never!”

However, the primary has intensified an ongoing leadership crisis within the party. A rival LP faction conducted a parallel primary on April 10, declaring Jude Umenajiego, a member of the Anambra State House of Assembly (Onitsha South Two), as its candidate.

Umenajiego reportedly polled 180 votes, again defeating John Nwosu, who scored 69 votes.

He immediately named Henry Mbachu (Awka South 1 lawmaker) as his running mate.

The parallel primary, organized by a factional electoral committee chaired by Sunday Okereke, cited adherence to the Electoral Act 2022 and internal party guidelines.

In his acceptance speech, Umenajiego declared himself the validly elected candidate, pledging to transform Anambra into a model state aligned with the LP’s ideology of moving Nigeria “from consumption to production.”

“Any other person is not recognised by the Labour Party leadership,” Umenajiego said.

The party’s National Deputy Youth Leader, Dr. Barry Johnson, dismissed the rival candidacy, insisting that George Moghalu remains the party’s sole legitimate flagbearer, recognized by both INEC and the party’s National Working Committee under Julius Abure.

Johnson provided a rare insight into the deepening internal divisions, revealing that the party is now split into three power blocs:

Abure camp: Comprising the National Executive Council and Working Committee.

Peter Obi camp: Backed by the Obedient Movement and the Nenadi Usman faction.

Alex Otti camp: Allegedly supported by the Nigeria Labour Congress and some pro-APC interests, reportedly eyeing the 2027 gubernatorial ticket and possibly a 2031 vice-presidential bid.

“We were hiding this information from the media because we didn’t want to wash our dirty linen in public. But now, we can say the rift in LP is due to a power tussle between Obi and Otti for control ahead of 2027,” Johnson stated.

He reiterated the party’s stance on the Anambra race: “Our candidate for the Anambra governorship election remains George Moghalu from the Abure camp.”

With INEC’s recognition of Moghalu’s candidacy, the internal wrangling within the Labour Party is poised to intensify as the 2025 Anambra gubernatorial election approaches.