Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo has secured a landslide re-election victory in Saturday’s governorship election in Anambra State, garnering an overwhelming 73 percent of the total votes cast in what he described as the most credible electoral exercise conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission in the state’s history.
The State Collation Officer and Vice Chancellor of the University of Benin, Professor Edoba Omoregie, officially declared Soludo as the winner during the announcement of results at INEC’s headquarters in Awka on Sunday morning. The incumbent governor, who contested on the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, polled 422,664 votes to triumph decisively over 15 other candidates.
His closest challenger, Chief Nicholas Ukachukwu of the All Progressives Congress, secured 99,445 votes, while Sir Paul Chukwuma of the Young Progressives Party came third with 37,753 votes. The Labour Party candidate, George Moghalu, recorded 10,576 votes, and the Peoples Democratic Party’s Jude Ezenwafor obtained 1,401 votes.
In his acceptance speech, Soludo expressed profound gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, describing Nigeria’s leader as a “true democrat” whose commitment ensured a free and fair electoral process throughout the state.
“With a sense of gratitude to the President and Commander-in-Chief, I thank President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu for being a very true democrat. He has demonstrated very firmly his commitment to guaranteeing a free and fair election,” the governor said.
Soludo particularly praised the INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan, noting that the commission’s performance in its first major electoral test under new leadership set an emphatic standard for transparency and efficiency.
“This is your first outing, and I am very excited that your first impression is a very emphatic one. INEC delivered,” Soludo stated. “Since 2017, when INEC started experimenting with technology, every election in Anambra has been getting better and better. This is the best election INEC has organised in Anambra so far.”
The governor commended INEC’s Information and Communication Technology department for ensuring real-time transparency through the upload of results on the commission’s Result Viewing Portal (IReV), which allowed Nigerians to track the electoral process as it unfolded.
According to official figures announced by Professor Omoregie, a total of 2,788,864 voters were registered in Anambra State, with 598,229 voters accredited for the election. Of the 595,298 votes cast, 584,054 were declared valid while 11,244 votes were rejected across all 21 local government areas of the state.
Soludo swept all 21 local government areas, recording victories in Aguata, Awka North, Awka South, Anambra East, Anambra West, Anaocha, Ayamelum, Dunukofia, Ekwusigo, Idemili North, Idemili South, Ihiala, Njikoka, Nnewi North, Nnewi South, Ogbaru, Onitsha North, Onitsha South, Orumba North, Orumba South, and Oyi local government areas.
The election marked a significant milestone in Anambra’s democratic journey, with voter turnout breaking the historic 20 percent ceiling. The governor noted that 22 percent of registered voters participated in the exercise, a marked improvement from the 2021 poll when he was first elected with just 112,000 votes.
“Four years ago, when the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System was first used, we had a low voter turnout, and you elected us with 112,000 votes. This time, you spoke loudly,” Soludo remarked. “For the first time in our history, voter participation broke the 20 percent ceiling, as 22 percent of registered voters came out, and you re-elected us with 73 percent of total votes. I am humbled by this show of solidarity.”
The governor also placed his victory in historical context, noting that he joins an elite group of Anambra governors who have secured re-election since the return of democracy in 1999. He pointed out that in 2010, a governor was re-elected with approximately 31 percent of votes cast, while in 2017, another secured re-election with 56 percent.
“In this one, you re-elected us with 73 percent of the votes. I am humbled by this solidarity and support,” he said, describing the outcome as the strongest endorsement any governor has received in Anambra’s political history.
Addressing his fellow contestants, Soludo struck a conciliatory tone, emphasizing that politics in the state should remain a competition of ideas rather than personal enmity. He extended a hand of fellowship to all 15 candidates who competed against him, expressing willingness to collaborate for the collective advancement of the state.
“Sixteen of us were on the ballot, and obviously, one person will win. In the Anambra way, we fight like there will be no tomorrow, but afterwards, we meet and celebrate. I extend a hand of fellowship to all of you, as I am prepared to work with everyone for the greater good of our dear state,” the governor said.
With his mandate renewed for another four-year term, Soludo dedicated the victory to the people of Anambra, describing it as a historic moment that reflects their collective trust and partnership with his administration. He promised that his government would intensify development projects across all sectors of the state economy.
“We applied for the job; you employed us. With this renewed trust and partnership, we will move into high gear to deliver more for the good of Anambra. Now that the people have spoken, let’s get to work. You ain’t seen anything yet,” the governor declared.
Despite the overwhelming victory, the election was not without controversy. Some opposition candidates, including Labour Party’s George Moghalu, rejected the results, alleging widespread vote-buying and underage voting in certain areas. However, INEC’s Resident Electoral Commissioner for Anambra State, Queen Elizabeth Agwu, dismissed the allegations, challenging accusers to provide concrete evidence to substantiate their claims.
The police had deployed 45,000 personnel to ensure security during the election, and reports from various polling units across the state indicated that the exercise was largely peaceful, with minimal incidents of violence.
Soludo and his running mate, Dr. Onyeka Ibezim, are expected to receive their certificates of return from INEC in the coming days, officially marking the beginning of their second term in office. The governor’s re-election extends the All Progressives Grand Alliance’s 19-year grip on power in Anambra State, a dominance that began in 2006.