The governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress in the November 8, 2025 Anambra State governorship election, Patrick Obianyo, has resigned from the position, citing the burden of the aspiration as the reason.

Obianyo, a former Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress in the state, made the announcement during the party’s governorship substitution primary election held on Friday at Hyton Hotel in Awka, the Anambra State capital.

He resigned as the party’s governorship candidate and handed it over to a former Labour Party governorship aspirant, John Nwosu, to continue the November 8 governorship race.

Obianyo said he was happy to have resigned and handed over the baton to a more capable hand, whom he believed would lead the party to victory.

The party’s governorship substitution primary election, monitored by officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission, saw John Nwosu emerge unopposed as the new governorship candidate of the ADC.

He said, “Please, stop calling me ‘His Excellency’. That name has stopped today, not regrettably, but happily, because I am happy to have resigned and hand over the baton to a more capable hand, Mr John Nwosu, to lead us to victory in the November 8 governorship race in the state.

“My blood pressure had increased due to the stress occasioned by the position, but now I feel relieved that I have handed over to a more capable person to continue.”

However, Nwosu, a former governorship aspirant in the Labour Party, was elected through a voice vote after the returning officer, Chief Anayo Arinze, resorted to this option after going through extant laws.

In his acceptance speech, Nwosu expressed his commitment to rescuing Anambra State

He said, “Today marks another important junction in our efforts to rescue Anambra. We will partner with ADC, her alliance, and coalition partners to form a formidable opposition that will dislodge the incumbent administration.”

Nwosu described his decision to join the ADC as a welcome change, assuring that his political platform, mission, and vision remain consistent.

“I am glad to be part of the larger ADC family. Much work remains to be done. Let’s go and get the job done,” he declared.

Earlier, the campaign director of John Nwosu, Ben Nwosu, a lawyer, described his principal as an ICT guru and a billionaire in different currencies, “but humble like the former governor of Anambra State, Mr Peter Obi”.

Recalled that Nwosu had lost the Labour Party governorship ticket to George Moughalu, who belongs to the Abure leadership of the LP, by polling 19 votes as against Moughalu, who polled 573 votes at the LP primary held at Finotel Hotel, Awka, on April 5.

He also lost the parallel primary conducted by a faction of the LP on April 10, when he polled 69 votes and lost to a member representing Onitsha South Two in the state House of Assembly, Jude Umenajiego, who polled 180 votes.