Anambra State Current Affairs 2026

Anambra State enters 2026 under the second term of Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, who was sworn in alongside Deputy Governor Onyekachukwu Ibezim on 17 March 2026. Soludo won the November 8, 2025 governorship election with 422,664 votes and secured victory across all 21 local government areas, giving the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) administration a renewed mandate.

The state's 2026 approved budget is ₦766.37 billion, following adjustments by the Anambra State House of Assembly to the governor's original ₦757.88 billion proposal. The approved budget provides approximately ₦596.77 billion for capital expenditure and ₦169.60 billion for recurrent expenditure. The unusually high capital allocation reflects the Soludo administration's emphasis on infrastructure, economic transformation, human capital and urban development.

Major priorities for 2026 include the development of Awka 2.0, Greater Niger and the Aerotropolis/New Industrial-commercial City, as well as the commencement of the Anambra Mixed-Use Industrial City. The government also plans continued investment in roads, bridges, flyovers, mass transportation, waterways and other infrastructure intended to improve connectivity and attract investment.

Anambra's revenue position remains an important governance issue. The National Bureau of Statistics reported ₦42.69 billion in internally generated revenue in 2024, placing Anambra among the stronger IGR-performing states in the South-East. The state's 2026 fiscal plans project a higher IGR target of about ₦50.12 billion. The government has also continued efforts to improve tax compliance and reduce revenue leakages.

On debt, Anambra has one of the lower domestic debt stocks among Nigerian states. The Debt Management Office reported ₦9.62 billion in domestic debt as at 31 March 2026. This is substantially lower than the state's domestic debt position reported in previous DMO releases and supports the administration's emphasis on fiscal discipline.

The state's population is estimated at about 9 million people in 2026. This should be treated as an estimate rather than a census figure because Nigeria's last national population census was conducted in 2006. Anambra recorded 4,177,828 people in the 2006 census and the NBS 2016 projection placed the state at 5,527,809 people. The Anambra State Government has subsequently described the state as having over nine million residents.

Politically, Anambra's federal representation changed during the current legislative period. Senator Victor Umeh represents Anambra Central, Senator Tony Nwoye represents Anambra North, while Senator Emmanuel Nwachukwu represents Anambra South after winning the August 2025 by-election following the death of Senator Ifeanyi Ubah. Umeh and Nwoye moved from Labour Party to ADC in 2026, while Nwachukwu remains with APGA.

Security and grassroots governance remain significant issues. Anambra has continued to strengthen security operations while the government pursues its wider objective of creating a more secure and economically productive state. In August 2026, the state conducted local government elections across all 21 LGAs, with APGA winning all 21 chairmanship positions and 346 councillorship seats.