‘You have not seen anything yet. With this trust, in partnership with Ndi Anambra, we will do more’, With these words, Governor Chukwuma Soludo, yesterday, accepted his landslide victory in Saturday’s governorship election in Anambra and vowed to ensure that every resident of the state felt the impact of his governance in the next four years.
Soludo, who becomes the third governor to be re-elected after Mr Peter Obi and Chief Willie Obiano, is however the first candidate to win all the 21 local councils of the state.
Less than 24 hours after the exercise, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), officially declared Prof Soludo winner of the election.
Soludo, according to Prof. Edoba Omoregie, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Benin (UNIBEN), Edo State, who served as Returning Officer for the election, polled 422,664 votes to be re-elected for second term.
The All Progressives Congress (APC), candidate, Nicholas Ukachukwu, came second with 99,445 votes. Paul Chukwuma of the YPP got 37,753 votes, while George Moghalu of Labour Party (LP), scored 10,576 votes.
Others include John Nwosu, ADC (8,208 votes); Jude Ezenwafor, PDP (1,230 votes) and Chioma Ifemeludike, AAC (292 votes).
‘The election was contested and a winner emerged, the candidate with the highest number of votes cast, and percentage have all been computed. I, therefore, declare that Soludo Charles Chukwuma, of the APGA, having satisfied the requirements of the law, has scored the highest number of votes in this election, is hereby, declared the winner, and returned elected’, Omoregie declared.
The governor, who polled 72.37 per cent of 595,054 valid votes cast, in his first speech after his declaration, extended a hand of fellowship to the 15 other candidates who contested against him, demonstrating a remarkable display of unity and inclusiveness.
Speaking at Isuofia, Governor Soludo praised the democratic process and the high voter turnout that characterised the election.
‘It’s a mockery of democracy’ – ADC condemns Anambra election
As celebrations erupted among his supporters and residents, Soludo thanked the people of Anambra for placing their trust in his leadership.
‘This victory is a collective achievement that reflects the aspirations of our citizens. I am profoundly grateful for the support received from every corner of Anambra State’, he said.
The former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), governor remarked that this marked the third time a governor had been re-elected in Anambra State, highlighting that his administration received support from 98 per cent of the wards.
He expressed enthusiasm about the future, saying ‘you have not seen anything yet. With this trust, in partnership with NdË Anambra, we will do more’.
Looking ahead to the next four years, Soludo said: ‘We are turning on to gear four, beginning from March 2026’.
He expressed gratitude to the people of Anambra for renewing his mandate.
‘Thank you for giving us the opportunity to serve you for another four years’, he added.
Governor Soludo also acknowledged President Bola Tinubu, emphasising the importance of letting the votes count and recognising the voices of the people who, he said, ‘spoke very loudly’.
He expressed appreciation to INEC for its forthrightness and noted that the improvements seen in the August bye-election in Anambra might indicate better days ahead.
‘It has been a free, fair and transparent election’, he stated.
In a gesture of goodwill, he extended his hand of fellowship to his opponents, saying ‘APGA is still magnanimous in victory’.
Soludo thanked the security agencies for their support throughout the electoral process.
Looking ahead
Governor Soludo reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to addressing the challenges facing the state, including improving infrastructure, enhancing security, and creating economic opportunities for all citizens.
He stated: ‘The journey begins now, and I am dedicated to ensuring that every resident of Anambra feels the positive impact of our governance’.
Soludo spoke as President Tinubu, Dr Chris Ngige and a host of stakeholders congratulated him on his victory.
Meanwhile, some of his opponents, including Moghalu and Nwosu, have kicked against the outcome of the poll, which has panned out as the most impressive since 2017.
Before the election, the new INEC Chairman, Prof Joash Amupitan, lamented that despite Anambra’s impressive register of 2,802,790 registered voters, the state has historically recorded poor turnout during governorship elections.
He recalled that in 2013, voter turnout stood at 25.5 per cent (413,005 valid votes from 1,770,125 registered voters), dropped to 20.1 per cent in 2017 (422,314 votes from 2,364,134 registered voters), and plummeted to 10.27 per cent in 2021 (241,523 votes from 2,466,638 registered voters).
In Saturday’s poll, 597,229 of the 2,788,864 eligible voters were accredited to vote, which translates to 21.45 per cent.
Valid votes were 595,054, while rejected ballots were 11,244
Hardworking leaders can’t be denied victory — Tinubu
Congratulating Soludo on his victory, President Tinubu said: “The victory of the opposition All Progressives Grand Progressives Alliance (APGA), in the election again demonstrates the vitality of our political system and the fact that victory for any progressive and hardworking leader can hardly be encumbered or denied’.
He also thanked the new INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, and his team for conducting what observers have described as a credible election, based on the reports he had received thus far.
‘I charge the commission with maintaining the standards and further improving its performance, so we can continue to strengthen and deepen our electoral system’, he concluded.
Soludo’s victory, a referendum—Ngige
Also speaking, former Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, congratulated Soludo on his “landslide victory” saying his victory in all the 21 councils of the state was like a referendum on his management of the state since 17 March 2022 when the state was entrusted in his care economically and politically.
‘Some of us had publicly attested to the excellent fiscal policy and gargantuan infrastructural and human resources development of our homeland by the governor’, he said.
Ngige, who once represented Anambra Central senatorial district in the Senate, further said: ‘Only God is perfect, so this second recruitment/ missionary affords the governor an opportunity to rededicate himself to working for the people with greater zeal to ensure the people’s welfare and security of their lives and property as enshrined in Section 14 (2)b of the Nigerian Constitution 1999’.
SERAP wants sponsors of vote buying probed, prosecuted
Meanwhile, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), has urged Professor Joash Amupitan, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to urgently refer the allegations of vote buying and undue influence during the just concluded governorship elections in Anambra State to appropriate anti-corruption agencies and the police for investigation and prosecution of the perpetrators and their sponsors.
In a letter by SERAP Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation said: “The recurring cases of vote buying and undue influence make a mockery of Nigeria’s electoral process and participatory democracy.
‘Impunity for past cases of electoral bribery and vote buying is a major barrier to free and fair elections in Nigeria.
‘Unless the legacy of impunity for these grave electoral offences is combated and perpetrators effectively prosecuted, those contemplating vote buying will feel unconstrained in future elections.
‘The effective prosecution of electoral bribery and vote buying would serve a legitimate aim, namely, the proper functioning and maintenance of the democratic and electoral processes.
‘Ensuring accountability and ending the impunity of perpetrators of electoral bribery and vote buying would enhance the rights of Nigerians to participate in their own government and ensure respect for the rule of law.
‘Referring the perpetrators and sponsors of vote buying and undue influence in Anambra to appropriate anti-corruption agencies and police for investigation and prosecution would improve public trust in the ability of your leadership of INEC to ensure free and fair elections in Nigeria.
‘It would also be consistent with INEC’s mandates under the Electoral Act and the letter and spirit of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended].
‘Electoral integrity is critical to a legitimate democracy. When the integrity of that process is compromised, the legitimacy of our government and the public confidence in our public institutions is seriously undermined.
‘Reports of electoral bribery, vote buying and undue influence in Anambra State have shown that INEC and politicians have learnt little or nothing from the well-documented problems during the 2023 general elections.
‘We would be grateful if the recommended measures are taken within seven days of the receipt and/or publication of this letter.
‘If we have not heard from you by then, SERAP shall take all appropriate legal actions to compel you and INEC to comply with our request in the public interest.
‘The right to vote is fundamental and is the essence of a democratic society, and any restrictions on that right strike at the heart of representative government. Nigerians should have the final say in the election of governmental officials’.
