All eyes are on cccc as voters prepare to head to the polls this Saturday to elect the next governor. The contest will determine whether incumbent Governor Chukwuma Soludo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) retains power or hands it over to a challenger from another party.

Political analysts suggest that eight local government areas (LGAs) with the largest voter populations are likely to play a decisive role in the outcome of the tightly contested race.

Topping the list is Idemili North, with 246,318 registered voters, followed by Awka South with 217,611. Ogbaru comes third with 188,016 voters, while Onitsha North has 183,647 registered voters. Other influential LGAs include:

• Onitsha South – 168,575 voters, a cosmopolitan area with a significant non-indigene population.
• Ihiala – 156,715 voters, a region affected in recent years by security concerns linked to separatist activities.
• Aguata – 155,881 voters, the incumbent Governor Soludo’s home LGA.

At the lower end, Anambra West and Dunukofia register 71,332 and 83,580 voters, respectively. Interestingly, Soludo’s Aguata ranks eighth in voter numbers, while Anaocha, home of former presidential candidate Peter Obi, has 124,075 voters.

Other notable areas include Nnewi North, base of Labour Party (LP) governorship candidate George Moghalu, with 166,400 registered voters, and Nnewi South, home of APC candidate Nicholas Ukachukwu, with 102,907 voters. The Anaocha, Njikoka, and Dunukofia LGAs collectively account for 326,655 voters, making them a strategic battleground for Obi and LP supporters.

In the Anambra North Senatorial District, YPP candidate Sir Paul Chukwuma is also expected to influence results. Key LGAs in the district include:

• Anambra East – 110,482 voters, home to Chukwuma and Senator Tony Nwoye (LP).
• Ayamelum – 96,947 voters.
• Oyi – 120,717 voters.
• Anambra West – 71,332 voters.

Senator Nwoye, representing Anambra North for LP, is anticipated to back his party’s candidate, further shaping voter dynamics in the district.

With voting power spread across these crucial LGAs, Saturday’s election promises to be a litmus test of party strength, grassroots mobilization, and voter loyalty across Anambra State.