Soludo Re-elected in Anambra; Opposition Highlights Pervasive Vote-Buying
In a decisive outcome for the Charles Chukwuma Soludo‐led All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), he has officially secured a second term as governor of Anambra State following the November 8 poll, according to results declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Landslide victory for Soludo
Prof. Soludo was declared winner with 422,664 votes, defeating his closest rival, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate Nicholas Ukachukwu, who garnered 99,445 votes. The Young Progressives Party (YPP) candidate Paul Chukwuma took third place with 37,753 votes.
Soludo won across all 21 local government areas of the state.
With this triumph he becomes the third governor in the past 26 years in Anambra to secure re-election under APGA.
Presidential congratulations and federal partnership flagged
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu extended his congratulations, applauding Soludo’s leadership and progress in Anambra. The President urged him to embrace cooperation with the opposition and assured continued federal-state collaboration.
In his remarks, Soludo thanked the President for his commitment to ensuring credible elections, referencing the November 8 poll.
Opposition parties decry vote-buying, cast aspersions on process
While the electoral result stands definitive, major opposition parties rejected the outcome, arguing that the poll was undermined by rampant vote-buying and other irregularities.
The ADC’s candidate, John Nwosu, described the election as “a win bought with cash” and an embarrassment for Nigeria’s democracy. He alleged that voters were openly paid between ₦3,000 and ₦20,000 at polling units.
Similarly, the national body of ADC deplored what it termed a “cash-drenched spectacle”, accusing APGA of using large-scale financial inducements and casting the election into the shape of a market rather than a democratic process.
The YPP also rejected the result, announcing its intention to challenge the election’s conduct citing infractions of the Electoral Act and INEC guidelines.
Moreover, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) reported arrests of three individuals allegedly involved in vote-buying at wards across Anambra.
Broader reflections and implications
Some observers hailed the poll outcome as evidence that the federal ruling APC did not drive a one-party state agenda, citing Soludo’s APGA affiliation and victory in the face of APC opposition.
However, the prevalence of vote-buying and voter apathy raised deeper concerns about the health of the state’s democratic processes. One democratic rights organisation noted that while INEC’s logistics operated smoothly, structural integrity and public trust remain in question.
What this means going forward
For Soludo, the second term offers a mandate to continue his policies under the slogan “The Solution”. For his opponents and civil society, however, the focus now shifts to reforming electoral conduct and penalising malpractices such as vote-buying.
As political actors reflect on the 2025 poll, attention will increasingly turn to the implications for the 2027 national elections, especially with respect to party structures, grassroots mobilisation, and accountability.