With the votes counted and declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the re-election of Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State has generated mixed reactions, new trends, and controversies.
INEC announced that Soludo, the candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), secured 422,664 votes to defeat his closest rival, the All Progressives Congress (APC), which polled 99,445 votes. The Labour Party (LP) came third with 10,576 votes, while the African Democratic Congress (ADC) trailed in fifth place with 8,208 votes.
However, the LP candidate, George Moghalu, and his ADC counterpart, John Nwosu, have rejected the results, alleging widespread irregularities and vote buying.
Speaking to journalists at his Nnewi office on Sunday, Moghalu described the exercise as flawed, claiming that underage voting and “alarming levels of vote buying” marred the process.
“Children who were not supposed to possess voter cards were openly seen voting. These issues raise serious questions about the integrity of the election,” he said.
Nwosu also alleged that voters were induced with cash ranging from ₦3,000 to ₦20,000, insisting that the exercise fell short of credibility standards. “An election can only be considered credible when it is free, fair, and reflects the genuine will of the people,” he stated.
Despite these allegations, several election observers commended improvements in logistics, technology, and voter management compared to previous polls in the state.
Declaring the results at the collation centre in Awka, the Returning Officer, Prof. Edoba Bright Omoregie of the University of Benin, said the election was “largely credible,” despite minor incidents in some local government areas affecting only 10,481 votes — a figure within the accepted margin of error.
“I, Professor Edoba Bright Omoregie, hereby certify that Charles Chukwuma Soludo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, having satisfied the requirements of the law and scored the highest number of votes, is hereby declared winner and returned elected,” he announced.
Analysts Credit Victory to APGA’s Grassroots Strength
Political analysts attributed Soludo’s landslide win to factors such as Anambra’s zoning arrangement, APGA’s dominance at the grassroots, the governor’s performance in office, and the weakened opposition.
APGA National Chairman, Barrister Sylvester Ezeokenwa, hailed the result as “a resounding endorsement of Soludo’s leadership and APGA’s popularity.”
“There is no other party in Anambra apart from APGA. The governor has touched the lives of youths across all 326 wards. The next four years will bring even greater infrastructure development,” he said.
But ADC State Chairman, Obianyo Patrick, disagreed, alleging over-voting, voter intimidation, and vote-buying. “The returning officer mentioned that the margin of error was insignificant — but that was only based on reported cases. What about the unreported ones?” he asked.
Governor Soludo is expected to be sworn in for his second term on March 17, 2026.
Voter Turnout and Election Data
The 2025 election marked a notable improvement in voter turnout, logistics, and security compared to the 2021 poll.
In 2025, there were 2,788,864 registered voters, 598,229 accredited voters, and 584,054 valid votes, compared to 2,466,638 registered voters and 241,523 valid votes in 2021.
Voter turnout rose from 10.1 percent in 2021 to 21 percent in 2025.
Observers attributed the improvement to early deployment of materials, better security, and the introduction of technology that improved efficiency and reduced delays.
Voter Experiences and Disenfranchisement
Despite these gains, some voters were unable to participate. A 96-year-old woman in Aniocha LGA was denied the right to vote for not having a Permanent Voter Card (PVC).
Some market women also said they missed the election due to challenges in collecting their PVCs and the coincidence of election day with Nkwo Market Day.
“I went several times to collect my PVC after registering but was never given, so I went to the market instead,” said Martha Udenwa.
Nevertheless, data from ElectHER showed that women made up 76 percent of election officials and voters, an increase from 2021.
Observers and Civil Groups Give Mixed Verdicts
Local and international observer groups generally rated the election as peaceful and transparent.
Nouvel Perspective (NP), represented by Jim Okolo and Alex Nwankwo, said the process “met international standards.”
Similarly, the Anambra Election Observation Hub—comprising Yiaga Africa, The Kukah Centre, IPC, CEMESO, NWTF, ElectHER, and TAF Africa—commended the peaceful conduct of voters and security agencies.
However, they condemned the late deployment of materials and widespread vote buying, urging INEC to address logistics challenges ahead of future elections.
Yiaga Africa also called for a national conversation on youth voter apathy and declining turnout.
The Centre for Transparency Advocacy (CTA) and the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) raised operational concerns, citing poor coordination, inadequate logistics for security personnel, and the monetisation of the process.
CDD’s post-election report linked the challenges to “broader governance failures, elite dominance, and weak institutions,” recommending reforms to encourage greater voter participation.
ADC Describes Poll as “Cash-Drenched Spectacle”
In a statement, ADC National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, criticised the election as “a cash-drenched spectacle,” accusing APGA of widespread vote-buying.
“What unfolded in Anambra was more of a bazaar than an election. Bundles of naira notes changed hands in full view of polling officials,” the statement said.
Tinubu, APC Chieftains Congratulate Soludo
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu congratulated INEC and Governor Soludo, describing the election as “a demonstration of democratic vitality.”
“The victory of APGA shows that performance and hard work cannot be denied. Governor Soludo has shown that knowledge is power—his projects reflect discipline and prudent management,” Tinubu said.
He urged Soludo to be magnanimous in victory and pledged continued collaboration with the federal government.
APC chieftain, Osita Okechukwu, also commended the outcome, saying it proved that Nigeria is not drifting into a one-party system.
“Soludo’s victory shows that performance, not power, drives success in a democracy,” he said.
