Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Anambra State local government elections held on Saturday, August 29, 2026, were largely peaceful across the state's 21 council areas, with the ruling All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) coasting to a clean sweep of all chairmanship seats. The election, however, was marked by low voter turnout and a dramatic boycott by the Young Progressives Party (YPP) in the only local government where it fielded a candidate, Anambra East, following allegations of gunfire and voter intimidation.
The Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission (ANSIEC) confirmed that only two political parties participated in the exercise: APGA and the YPP. Major opposition parties, including the All Progressives Congress (APC), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and others, stayed away, leaving APGA candidates running unopposed in 20 of the state's 21 local government areas.
In a first for the state, ANSIEC introduced a "Yes or No" ballot system for the unopposed races. Voters were asked to either accept or reject the sole APGA candidate, with the candidate needing a majority of "Yes" votes to be declared winner. Early results from Nnewi North and Awka North local government areas declared APGA candidates Thank God Anago and Echezona Anazodo as the duly elected mayors. APGA supporters expressed confidence in achieving a "21/21 victory".
Despite the peaceful conduct in most areas, voter turnout was notably low, with many residents staying away from polling units. In Awka North and South, voters were observed going about their normal businesses as commercial activities continued uninterrupted.
The only real tension of the day erupted in Anambra East Local Government Area, the sole council where APGA faced a challenger. The YPP candidate, Sunday Nnabuife, boycotted the election midway, alleging that his party agents and supporters were blocked at gunpoint from accessing polling units. YPP agent Charles Ifediora claimed that members of the state's Agunechemba Security Squad fired indiscriminately, injuring a female party supporter. "It's an appalling situation here," Ifediora said, describing the process as a "charade" manipulated in favor of APGA.
The Agunechemba Security Squad denied the allegations, insisting they intervened to quell violence by political thugs. The Anambra State Police Command had earlier assured of tight security and ordered officers to remain neutral. Governor Chukwuma Soludo had previously noted that voting against APGA would be a "wasted vote," a statement critics saw as discouraging opposition participation.
As ANSIEC continued collation across the state, APGA's dominance was already assured. For the opposition, however, the question remains: when an election becomes a one-party affair with a "Yes/No" ballot, is it democracy or a mere formality?
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