The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially listed Chief George Moghalu as the Labour Party’s candidate for the upcoming Anambra State governorship election scheduled for November 8, 2025.
This move effectively affirms the leadership of Julius Abure as the recognised National Chairman of the Labour Party, amid internal disputes over the party’s leadership.
Moghalu emerged as the party’s flagbearer from the Abure-led faction during the primary election held on April 5 at Finotel Hotel in Awka. He secured a landslide victory with 573 votes, defeating his only opponent, John Nwosu, who garnered 19 votes.
According to INEC, the primary was properly conducted under its supervision and observed by election monitors. Out of 649 registered delegates, 601 were accredited, with 592 casting valid votes and five ballots declared invalid.
The LP, in a congratulatory message via its official X (formerly Twitter) handle on Monday, celebrated Moghalu’s emergence, stating:
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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. Congratulations also to the good people of Anambra State on this development! 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!”
The outcome of the Labour Party’s (LP) April 5 governorship primary in Anambra has intensified the party’s internal crisis, as a rival faction conducted a parallel primary just five days later, further entrenching the divisions within the party.
On April 10, a separate LP faction held its own primary and declared Jude Umenajiego—the current representative of Onitsha South Two in the Anambra State House of Assembly—as its governorship candidate. Umenajiego polled 180 votes to defeat John Nwosu, who again lost with 69 votes.
Immediately after his emergence, Umenajiego announced Henry Mbachu, lawmaker for Awka South 1, as his running mate. The acting chairman of the faction’s electoral committee, Sunday Okereke, declared Umenajiego the “duly elected” candidate, citing compliance with party guidelines and the Electoral Act 2022.
In his acceptance speech, Umenajiego pledged to secure victory for the party and turn Anambra into a model for Labour Party governance. “I am the validly elected governorship candidate of the party. Any other person is not recognised by the Labour Party leadership,” he stated.
However, the opposing camp led by Julius Abure has dismissed Umenajiego’s emergence, maintaining that Chief George Moghalu—who won the INEC-recognised April 5 primary—remains the party’s sole legitimate candidate.
Dr. Barry Johnson, LP’s National Deputy Youth Leader, confirmed Moghalu’s affiliation with the Abure-led leadership, asserting that he is the only candidate backed by the party’s constitutionally recognised organs.
Johnson also offered rare insight into the root of the party’s internal turmoil, attributing it to a growing power struggle involving three key blocs: the Abure camp, the Peter Obi camp, and the Alex Otti camp—each with competing political ambitions ahead of the 2027 general elections.
According to Johnson, the Abure faction is aligned with the party’s National Working Committee and National Executive Council, while the Obi bloc draws support from the Obedient Movement and allies like former minister Nenadi Usman.
The third camp, allegedly aligned with Governor Alex Otti of Abia State, is said to enjoy backing from the Nigeria Labour Congress and some influential figures within the All Progressives Congress. Johnson claimed this group is eyeing the party’s 2027 governorship ticket and possibly a vice-presidential slot in 2031.
“We were hiding this information from the media for long because we didn’t want to wash our dirty linens in public. But now, we can tell the public that the rift in the LP is due to a power tussle between Obi and Otti for control of the party ahead of 2027,” Johnson said.
He reaffirmed, “Our candidate for the Anambra governorship election remains George Moghalu from the Abure camp.”
 has officially listed Chief George Moghalu as the Labour Party’s candidate for the upcoming Anambra State governorship election scheduled for November 8, 2025.){kind=link}