LP, ADC Candidates Reject Anambra Poll Result, Allege Massive Vote-Buying in Soludo’s Re-Election

Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo has been re-elected as governor of Anambra State following the November 8 governorship election, according to results declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Soludo, the candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), secured 422,664 votes to defeat his closest rival from the All Progressives Congress (APC), who polled 99,445 votes. The Labour Party (LP) candidate, George Moghalu, came third with 10,576 votes, while John Nwosu of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) placed fifth with 8,208 votes.

The official announcement was made by the Returning Officer, Professor Edoba Bright Omoregie of the University of Benin, at the collation centre in Awka around 8:21 a.m. on Sunday. He certified the election as credible, noting that the affected votes from reported incidents in four local government areas were within the margin of error.

However, both Moghalu and Nwosu have rejected the results, citing widespread irregularities and vote-buying. Moghalu alleged that underage voters participated freely, while Nwosu claimed that voters were openly induced with cash ranging from ₦3,000 to ₦20,000. The ADC also accused APGA of turning the exercise into a “cash-drenched spectacle,” calling for electoral reforms to safeguard future polls.

APGA’s National Chairman, Barrister Sylvester Ezeokenwa, celebrated the win as a “resounding endorsement” of Soludo’s leadership and grassroots performance. Political analysts attributed the landslide victory to zoning arrangements, APGA’s dominance across local communities, and the governor’s record in office.

The 2025 election showed notable improvement in logistics, technology deployment, and voter management compared to the 2021 poll. INEC recorded 2,788,864 registered voters and 598,229 accredited voters, with 595,298 total votes cast—over twice the turnout rate of 2021. Observers said early deployment of materials and improved security boosted participation, though voter turnout still stood at 21 percent.

Reports also highlighted isolated cases of disenfranchisement. A 96-year-old woman in Aniocha was denied voting due to lack of a Permanent Voter Card (PVC), while several market women said they missed out because the election coincided with Nkwo Market Day. Nonetheless, participation by women was significantly higher, with ElectHER reporting that women constituted 76 percent of election officials and voters.

Local and international observers, including Yiaga Africa, The Kukah Centre, CEMESO, and Nouvel Perspective, described the election as largely peaceful and transparent. They commended improvements in electoral logistics but condemned rampant vote-buying and late deployment of materials in some areas. The Centre for Transparency Advocacy and the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) raised concerns about poor coordination for security agents and weak institutional accountability, recommending reforms to make voting more accessible.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu congratulated INEC and Soludo, calling the exercise a testament to Nigeria’s democratic maturity. He praised Soludo’s “discipline and prudent management of resources” and assured him of federal collaboration. APC chieftain Osita Okechukwu said the outcome reaffirmed that performance, not party dominance, drives success in democracy.

Governor Soludo, whose first term began in March 2022, is expected to be inaugurated for a second four-year term on March 17, 2026.