By Cajetan Mmuta, David Lawani and Cross Udo
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared Prof Charles Soludo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) winner of Saturday’s governorship election in Anambra State, reaffirming the party’s stronghold in the South-East state.
The election, held across 21 local government areas on November 8, 2025, saw Soludo, who first came to power in 2021, secure a convincing second-term mandate.
The declaration was made on Sunday at INEC’s state headquarters in Awka under tight security.
Announcing the results, the Returning Officer and Vice Chancellor of the University of Benin, Prof Bright Omoregie (SAN), said Soludo satisfied all constitutional requirements and scored the highest number of lawful votes.
According to Omoregie, Soludo polled 422,664 votes, while his closest challenger, Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), garnered 99,445 votes.
Other results showed Paul Chukwuma of the Young Progressives Party (YPP) with 37,753 votes, George Moghalu of the Labour Party (LP) with 10,576 votes, and Obinna Nwosu of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) with 8,208 votes.
Omoregie stated that the APGA candidate won in 19 out of 21 local government areas, thereby fulfilling the constitutional threshold of securing two-thirds of the votes in at least two-thirds of the councils.
“Having satisfied the constitutional requirements and scored the highest number of valid votes, I, Prof Bright Omoregie, hereby declare Prof Charles Soludo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance as the duly elected Governor of Anambra State,” the Returning Officer said.
He added that while voting was disrupted in a few polling areas, affecting about 10,481 voters, the margin of lead between the top candidates exceeded the number of affected votes, rendering the disruptions inconsequential to the overall outcome.
*The people have spoken loud and clear, says re-elected governor
Following the declaration, Awka and other major towns erupted in celebrations as jubilant APGA supporters thronged the streets, chanting solidarity songs and hailing Soludo’s re-election.
Elated Soludo thanked the people of the state for re-electing him into office for another four years.
In his speech shortly after being declared the winner of the election, Soludo said it was time to get back to work.
“Now that the people have spoken, let us get back to work,” the governor said on Sunday in his country home in Isuofia, Aguata Local Government Area of the state.
“Even last night, as the collation was going on, I was even making calls. I spoke with the Commissioner for Budget, discussing the budget outlines I would like to start discussing. I am back in the office. It is a 24/7 assignment, and we can’t wait. ‘Ndi’ Anambra cannot wait.
“The job to be done is still a lot; it is an assignment with a deadline. May Anambra continue to win, may Nigeria continue to win,” he added.
The former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) reiterated his administration’s commitment to serving the people of the state better.
Also, the National Chairman of APGA, Sylvester Ezeokenwa, described the victory as “a well-deserved and historic mandate,” attributing it to the people’s confidence in Soludo’s performance over the past four years.
“This victory is a resounding vote of confidence in the leadership of Governor Soludo. Ndi Anambra have reaffirmed their belief that our governor has delivered on his promises and deserves a second term to consolidate his achievements,” he said.
*LP’s Moghalu kicks, alleges vote-buying by APGA’s candidate
Meanwhile, the Labour Party (LP) in Anambra has formally rejected the outcome of Saturday’s Governorship Election in the state, citing vote buying and underage voting, among other irregularities.
Addressing journalists in Nnewi on Sunday, the party’s Governorship Candidate, Mr George Muoghalu, alleged that the election lacked transparency.
He said, “The November 8 election has come and gone, but the truth is that it was a sham. There were issues of vote buying, intimidation of party agents, and underage voting, among others.”
The LP candidate said that reports were still being compiled from the field.
“We will do a comprehensive review of the party after studying all the reports from across the state. We are still awaiting a comprehensive report, but for now, we can confidently say that the election was neither credible, free, nor fair.
“INEC had its own failure. In some instances, result sheets were not visible, and voting was underway. If you look at social media, there was buying and selling of votes at an alarming level, probably the reason for poverty, so that people can be bought with money,” Muoghalu said.
He said that one of his major supporters in Obosi, Idemili North Local Government Area, was picked up and beaten to a pulp, despite the heavy presence of security personnel.
“The security agencies promised us total security, which was why I understand that over 45,000 personnel were deployed with over 20 CPs, AIGs, and DIGs in the state.
“However, in the end, they could not stop the visible vote-buying that was occurring everywhere. The entire process was faulty. We reject the outcome of the election,” he said.
Muoghalu further said that the party’s name was not on the ballot papers, which only had the logo.
He asked, “How do you explain that to somebody who doesn’t know the logo but knows the name?”
Meanwhile, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Anambra, Mrs Queen Agwu, had dismissed the allegations as “unsubstantiated,” urging anyone with proof to come forward.
Agwu told journalists in an interview that no credible evidence had been presented to support the claims.
She contended that “no verified case of vote-buying was reported to the commission’s situation room throughout the exercise”.
Agwu commended the overall conduct of the election, describing INEC’s logistics and security deployment as “effective”.
*Tinubu hails re-election, calls victory a triumph of visionary leadership
President Bola Tinubu congratulated Governor Soludo on his re-election, describing the outcome as “an affirmation of visionary, knowledge-driven leadership.”
In a statement from the Presidency, Tinubu commended the people of Anambra for conducting themselves peacefully, and praised INEC and security agencies for managing what he called “a credible and transparent election.”
“Professor Soludo’s re-election is a testament to his visionary leadership and the significant progress the state has made under his guidance,” the President said.
Tinubu added that Soludo had demonstrated that academic rigour and policy discipline could be applied effectively in governance.
“Governor Soludo, the Solution, has shown that knowledge is power and that integrity and prudence can transform governance. Under him, Anambra is living up to its motto as the Light of the Nation,” Tinubu stated.
The President urged Soludo to be magnanimous in victory and to work with his opponents for the greater good of the state. He also pledged continued collaboration between the Federal Government and the Anambra State Government.
“I assure Governor Soludo of my unwavering support and look forward to further partnership in areas of infrastructure, trade, and security,” Tinubu said.
He further commended the new INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, for conducting what observers described as one of the most credible elections in recent years.
*SERAP, CTA condemn vote-buying, logistics flaws
While the election was largely peaceful, civic groups have raised serious concerns over reports of widespread vote buying.
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), in a statement signed by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, called on INEC to urgently refer all cases of electoral bribery to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), and the police for investigation and prosecution.
The rights group accused political parties and their sponsors of engaging in systematic vote buying through cash inducements and electronic transfers ranging from ₦2,000 to ₦10,000.
“The recurring cases of vote buying and undue influence make a mockery of Nigeria’s democracy. Unless INEC acts decisively to curb this impunity, the credibility of our elections will continue to erode,” SERAP warned.
The organisation said reports from observer groups, including the Centre for Democracy and Development Election Analysis Centre (CDD-EAC), confirmed incidents of cash-for-votes in local governments such as Anambra East, Ihiala, Orumba North, Onitsha North, Awka South, and Nnewi North.
In several polling units, voters were reportedly seen photographing their marked ballots as proof of compliance after receiving payment, while security personnel and INEC officials allegedly looked the other way.
SERAP noted that failure to act on past incidents had emboldened perpetrators, adding that it would take legal action against INEC if it failed to act within seven days.
“If we have not heard from you within seven days, we shall take all appropriate legal actions to compel compliance in the public interest,” the letter warned.
The group also condemned the reported harassment of journalists and urged INEC to uphold its constitutional mandate under Sections 121 and 127 of the Electoral Act, which prohibit electoral bribery and undue influence.
Similarly, the Centre for Transparency and Advocacy (CTA) released its preliminary election observation report, highlighting low voter turnout, logistical challenges, and poor welfare for security personnel.
At a post-election briefing in Awka, CTA observer and university don, Professor Alex Asigbo, said the group deployed 50 trained observers across the 21 LGAs of the state and recorded several operational lapses.
He said INEC officials and materials arrived late in many polling units, with voting starting as late as 10 a.m. in about a third of the locations observed.
“INEC is yet to resolve its logistics challenges fully,” Asigbo said. “Despite assurances, there were inadequate vehicles and cases where hired transporters refused to pick up other officials after initial drop-offs, causing further delays.”
He commended security personnel for maintaining order at most polling stations but decried poor welfare and working conditions.
“Some police officers complained that they had nowhere to sleep or bathe, and that allowances had not been paid except ₦1,000 for snacks,” he said.
CTA reported that INEC relocated voting in five communities in Ihiala LGA due to security risks. The organisation also noted incidents of vote buying, which it described as “brazen” and “mutating into new forms.”
“Vote buying took the form of cash transfers, food vouchers, and name-and-account collation in full public view,” Asigbo said. “The phenomenon appears far from eradicated and requires joint action by INEC, security agencies, and political stakeholders.”
The group also found that the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) functioned efficiently in over 80 per cent of polling units, with only minor glitches.
“While turnout was low due to voter apathy and security fears, citizens conducted themselves peacefully. We commend the professionalism of INEC officials, observers, and the media,” Asigbo added.
