Anambra governorship elections since 1999 have always gone down to the wire, with technocrats, politicians and moneybags slugging it out.

Saturday’s epic showdown for the LightHouse in Awka follows in the same trajectory of intensity and complexity. The power chess game is intricately intertwined as the gladiators and their backers reach deep for their trump cards.

Among the 16 combatants, two candidates stand out as the frontrunners. Incumbent Governor Charles Soludo, a 65-year-old economist from Isuanioma in Aguata LGA, is flying the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) flag against the 58-year-old All Progressives Congress (APC) businessman, Nicholas Ukachukwu, from Osumenyi in Nnewi South LGA, in what promises to be a battle of wits and brawn.

However, it may turn out to be a three-horse race involving George Moghalu, 62, of the Labour Party (LP), from Nnewi, Nnewi North LGA.

One factor that many expect to influence Saturday’s election is the support of President Bola Tinubu. Although the president is not a registered voter in Anambra and woefully lost the presidential election in the state in 2023, many Nigerians believe that an incumbent president can control the tide of local elections based on his control and influence over security agencies and the electoral commission, INEC.

While Mr Moghalu has no reason to expect support from Aso Rock, Messrs Soludo and Ukachukwu are locked in a battle over who deserves the president’s