The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially released the final list of candidates for the Anambra State off-cycle governorship election, scheduled to take place on Saturday, November 8, 2025. This announcement was made in a statement by Sam Olumekun, INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, on Wednesday in Abuja.

A total of 16 out of the 19 registered political parties in Nigeria will participate in the election. Among the cleared candidates vying for the state's top position are the incumbent governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu representing the All Progressives Congress (APC), and George Moghalu of the Labour Party (LP), along with candidates from 13 other political parties.

The final list reveals specific demographic details: the African Action Congress (AAC) and the National Rescue Movement (NRM) have nominated female candidates for the governorship position. Additionally, six parties—Accord (A), All Progressives Congress (APC), Action Peoples Party (APP), Boot Party (BP), Labour Party (LP), and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP)—are fielding female running mates. The age of the candidates ranges from 36 to 71 years. Notably, no political party nominated a person with a disability (PWD) as a candidate for the election.

The publication of the final list followed the conclusion of party primaries and the candidate substitution window, which closed on Monday, June 2, 2025. Political parties had until May 12, 2025, to submit their candidate particulars. During the substitution period, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) conducted a fresh primary election to replace its governorship candidate. Furthermore, four political parties—Accord (A), African Action Congress (AAC), Labour Party (LP), and the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP)—replaced their deputy governorship candidates. Olumekun emphasized that with the list now published, no further withdrawals or replacements will be permitted, except in the event of a candidate's or running mate's death before Election Day, as stipulated in Section 34(1) of the Electoral Act 2022.

In accordance with Section 94(1) of the Electoral Act 2022, political parties and their candidates are now permitted to commence their public electioneering campaigns. The official campaign period begins on Wednesday, June 11, 2025, and will conclude at midnight on Thursday, November 6, 2025.

INEC has also issued a reminder to all political parties, candidates, and their supporters regarding the regulations governing campaign conduct. As enshrined in Sections 92 and 93 of the Electoral Act 2022, it is unlawful to use abusive language, incite violence, carry out physical attacks on opponents or their supporters during rallies, processions, and meetings, or destroy campaign materials.

Furthermore, the Commission stressed that all parties and candidates must be granted unimpeded access to public facilities for media campaigns, outdoor advertising, as well as public rallies and meetings. Citing Section 95(2) of the Electoral Act 2022, INEC explicitly prohibited the use of incumbency power to confer an advantage or disadvantage on any political party or candidate during the election period.

The full list of candidates, detailing their respective parties, age, gender, and academic qualifications, has been uploaded to INEC's official website and social media platforms for public access and scrutiny. INEC urged the electorate to review the candidates' backgrounds and qualifications.