Nigeria, Nov. 6 -- As the people of Anambra State go to the polls on Saturday to decide who governs them in the next four years, there are indications that the off-cycle governorship election will be more than a test of party strength. The exercise appears to be shaping up as a battle of influence among powerful politicians, wealthy entrepreneurs, and political movements contending to define the future of Anambra's governance.

The 16 candidates vying for the election, including the incumbent, Charles Soludo, have taken their campaigns to the nooks and crannies of the 34-year-old state.

The governorship hopefuls are depending on political networks, financiers, and loyal grassroots operatives, the combination of which may determine who oc...