Anambra: LP and ADC Candidates Reject Results as Soludo Re-Elected

Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo’s Re-election Sparks Controversy and Praise

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 sparked mixed reactions, new trends, and controversies. The Labour Party (LP) candidate, George Moghalu, and his African Democratic Congress (ADC) counterpart, John Nwosu, have rejected the outcome of the election held last Saturday in which Soludo was declared the winner.

INEC announced that Soludo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) polled 422,664 votes to secure victory, followed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) with 99,445 votes, while LP came third with 10,576 votes. Nwosu of the ADC placed fifth, garnering 8,208 votes.

But addressing journalists at his Nnewi office on Sunday, Moghalu expressed deep dissatisfaction with the conduct of the election, alleging widespread irregularities, including what he described as ‘alarming vote buying.’ ‘Children who were not supposed to possess voter cards were openly seen with them and allowed to vote,’ Moghalu said. ‘These are issues that raise serious questions about the integrity of the process,’ he added.

Similarly, ADC’s John Nwosu alleged massive vote buying across several polling units, claiming that voters were induced with sums ranging from N3,000 to N20,000. He maintained that an election can only be considered credible when it is free, fair, and reflects the genuine will of the people.

Despite the controversies, many observers commended the general improvement in logistics, technology deployment, and voter management compared to previous elections in the state. After months of intense campaigns and 24 hours of voting, INEC announced Soludo as the winner with a total of 422,664 votes, ahead of the APC’s 99,445 votes and Labour Party’s 10,576 votes.

The Returning Officer, Prof. Edoba Bright Omoregie of the University of Benin, made the declaration around 8.21am on Sunday at the collation centre in Awka. He stated that the election was largely credible, noting that incidents in Anambra West, Aniocha, Awka South, and Onitsha South affected only 10,481 votes, which fell within the margin of error principle.

‘I, Professor Edoba Bright Omoregie, Senior Advocate of Nigeria and Vice Chancellor of the University of Benin, hereby certify that I am the polling officer of the 2025 Anambra State governorship election held on the 8th of November, 2025. I also certify that the election was contested and that a winner emerged. The candidate with the highest number of votes cast, having satisfied the requirements of the law, is hereby declared winner and returned elected. Therefore, Soludo Charles Chukwuma of the APGA is declared the winner,’ he said.

Political analysts attribute Soludo’s landslide victory to several factors – the zoning arrangement, APGA’s grassroots dominance, the governor’s performance in office, and the weakened opposition field. Reacting to the outcome, APGA’s National Chairman, Barrister Sylvester Ezeokenwa, described the victory as a resounding endorsement of Soludo’s leadership and the party’s popularity.

‘There is no other party in Anambra apart from APGA. The governor has touched the lives of youths in all 326 electoral wards in the state. It is unprecedented. The next four years will be devoted to massive infrastructure development,’ he said.

But the ADC state chairman, Obianyo Patrick, disagreed, alleging irregularities. ‘There was over-voting, vote-buying, and intimidation despite the use of BVAS. The returning officer mentioned that the margin of error was insignificant, but that was based on reported cases. What about the unreported ones?’ he queried. Patrick further alleged that in his polling unit at Akarakeze Ward 004, Idemili North, his party agent was chased away, and voters were coerced to thumbprint for another party ‘in full view of INEC officials.’

Governor Soludo is expected to be inaugurated for a second four-year term on March 17, 2026.

Comparison with 2021 Poll

The 2025 election marked a significant improvement in voter turnout, logistics, and security compared to the 2021 governorship poll. In 2021, there were 2,466,638 registered voters, 2,117,323 PVCs collected, and 253,388 accredited voters. Out of 249,631 total votes cast, 241,523 were valid and 8,108 were rejected.

By contrast, the 2025 election recorded 2,788,864 registered voters with 598,229 accredited voters, 595,298 total votes cast, 584,054 valid votes, and 11,244 rejected votes—a marked improvement in participation and efficiency. Soludo’s 2021 victory came with 112,229 votes (46.5%), against PDP’s 53,807 and APC’s 43,285.

Observers noted that the 2025 election witnessed earlier deployment of materials, timely accreditation, a more peaceful atmosphere, and improved professionalism among security personnel. The voter turnout rose from 10.1 percent in 2021 to 21 percent in 2025.

During the 2021 election, insecurity linked to groups affiliated with the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) claimed over 100 lives in Awka North and Ihiala LGAs, with other LGAs like Aguata, Ayamelum, Anambra West, Anaocha, Idemili North, Idemili South, and Njikoka recording up to 60 fatalities each, according to the UKID/CDD Election War Room.

96-Year-Old Woman Disenfranchised

Despite improvements, some voters, especially women, were unable to participate. A 96-year-old woman at Ward 2, Polling Unit 008 in Umudimakasi, Aniocha LGA, was barred from voting for lack of a PVC. Several market women also missed out, citing difficulties collecting their PVCs and prioritising the Nkwo Market Day, which coincided with election day.

‘I went several times to collect my PVC after registering but was never given. So, I decided to go to the market instead,’ said Martha Udenwa. Chinyere Okafor and Chiamaka Eze shared similar experiences, while Aisha Abdulrahman said she skipped voting altogether because she couldn’t obtain her PVC.

Nevertheless, observers reported increased women participation. ElectHER’s data showed that women accounted for 76 percent of officials and voters, compared to 24 percent of men.

Observers, Analysts Give Verdict

Daily Trust reports that local and international observers gave the election a generally positive assessment. Foreign observer group Nouvel Perspective (NP), represented by Jim Okolo and Alex Nwankwo, said the process met international standards. ‘We are impressed that the election was peaceful, stable, and transparent. It encouraged greater voter turnout and reflected proper electoral engagement,’ Okolo said.

Similarly, the Anambra Election Observation Hub—comprising Yiaga Africa, The Kukah Centre, IPC, CEMESO, NWTF, ElectHER, and TAF Africa—described the election as largely peaceful. ‘We commend the people of Anambra State for maintaining peace during voting, counting and collation,’ said Asmau Samson Itodo, who signed the coalition’s statement.

Observers said the correlation validated the credibility of INEC’s declared results. However, they condemned late deployment of materials, low voter turnout, and vote buying. ‘The fact that less than half of polling units were operational at the official start time shows INEC must fix its logistics challenges. We also condemn the rampant vote-buying which undermines electoral integrity and equal participation,’ the statement read.

Yiaga Africa further called for a national conversation on declining voter turnout, especially among youths.

CTA, CDD Raise Operational Concerns

Also, the Centre for Transparency Advocacy (CTA) expressed concern over the welfare and logistics arrangements for election officials. Dr. Emeka Ononamadu and Faith Eziashi, of CTA’s Election Expert Team, reported that police officers deployed from other states were stranded due to poor coordination at registration centres. They also noted that vehicles leased from the NURTW were not properly monitored.

Professor Alex Asigbo, CTA’s lead observer, highlighted vote-buying and poor voter turnout as the main challenges, adding that only APGA (100%), APC (93.8%), and Labour Party (37%) had full agent representation at polling units.

Similarly, the CDD-West Africa, in a post-election report signed by Prof. Victor Adetula and Dr. Dauda Garuba, linked electoral shortcomings to ‘wider governance failures, elite dominance, and weak institutions.’ They recommended reforms that allow normal economic activities to continue during elections to ease voter participation.

Election Heavily Monetised – ADC

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) criticised the election, alleging widespread vote-buying and describing it as ‘a cash-drenched spectacle.’ In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the party accused Governor Soludo and APGA of ‘open cash-for-votes.’ The party said, ‘What unfolded in Anambra was more of a bazaar than an election. Bundles of naira notes changed hands in full view at polling units. If this is how INEC intends to conduct the 2027 elections, Nigerians have every reason to worry about the future of democracy.’

Tinubu Commends INEC, Congratulates Soludo

Meanwhile, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has congratulated INEC Chairman Prof. Joash Amupitan, on conducting what he described as a credible election and urged the commission to maintain the standards. ‘The victory of APGA demonstrates the vitality of our political system. It shows that performance and hard work can never be denied,’ Tinubu said in a statement he personally signed.

The President also praised Soludo’s governance style, saying, ‘Governor Soludo, the Solution, has shown that knowledge is power. His projects reflect discipline, brilliance, and prudent resource management. Under him, Anambra is truly living up to its motto as the Light of the Nation.’

Tinubu urged Soludo to be magnanimous in victory and assured him of continued collaboration with the federal government.

Meanwhile, APC chieftain Osita Okechukwu described Soludo’s win as proof that Nigeria is not drifting into a one-party system. ‘There’s no fear of a one-party state. Soludo’s victory shows that performance, not power, drives success in a democracy,’ he said.