In a landslide, the Anambra State Governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, weekend, secured his re-election for another term of four years, thus reinforcing the power of incumbency in Nigeria’s electoral system.
Although a few governors had failed the re-election test since the nation returned to civil rule in 1999, the power of incumbency has remained a recuring factor in the nation’s electoral process.
But the election of Soludo, despite the tension that built up to the exercise, has reaffirmed the myth about the incumbency power as a critical factor in elections in this part of the world.
Soludo secured a second term after he was declared winner of the November 8 Anambra State governorship election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)
According to the results announced by INEC in the early hours of yesterday, Soludo won by a landslide in the 21 local government areas of the South-East state, polling 422,664 votes to defeat his closest rival, Nicholas Ukachukwu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) with 99,445 votes.
Returning Officer and Vice Chancellor of the University of Benin, Omoregie Edoba, declared Soludo as the winner of the exercise after the collation of results from the local government areas of the state where the election was held.
“I hereby declare that Soludo Chukwuma Charles of the APGA, having satisfied the requirements of the law, is hereby declared the winner and is returned elected,” Edoba, a professor, told a gathering at the state headquarters of INEC in Awka, the state capital, where the election results were collated.
Soludo, candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), secured 422,664 votes to trounce his closest rival, the All Progressives Congress (APC)’s Nicholas Ukachukwu, who polled 99,445 votes.
Paul Chukwuma of the Young Progressives Party (YPP) came third with 37,753 votes, while John Nwosu of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) scored 8,208 votes.
George Moghalu of the Labour Party (LP) and Jude Ezenwafor of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) scored 10,576 votes and 1,401 votes, respectively.
Shortly after the results were announced, there was jubilation at the residence of the governor in Isoufia community, Aguata LGA.
The results have given Soludo a fresh four-year term at the Light House. Sixteen parties and their candidates contested for Anambra’s top job. Apart from Soludo and Ukachukwu, others were Paul Chukwuma of the Young Progressives Party (YPP) and John Nwosu of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Also cleared by INEC were George Moghalu of the Labour Party (LP), Echezona Oti of the Allied People’s Movement (APM), Ms. Chioma Ifemeludike of the African Action Congress (AAC), Jeff Nweke of Action Alliance (AA), Charles Onyeze of Accord Party (AP), Geoff Onyejegbu of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), and Jude Ezenwafor of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Also in the race were Chukwudubem Nweke of the Action Peoples Party (APP), Jerry Okeke of the Boot Party (BP), Ndidi Olieh of the National Rescue Movement (NRM), Martin Ugwoji of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), and Vincent Chukwurah of the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
Soludo was first elected governor on November 10, 2021, sweeping to victory in 19 of the 21 LGAs.
Victory for the 65-year-old former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) signalled the end of the months-long electioneering dominated by debates over the state of affairs in Anambra.
His opponents and critics accused him of failing to address insecurity and economic challenges plaguing Anambra residents.
But the governor promised to consolidate on his achievements in the first four years if re-elected, banking on APGA’s 19-year grip on power in the state.
Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu, among several other prominent Nigerians, has congratulated Soludo on his victory as Anambra State governor.
The president, in a personally signed congratulatory letter, lauded Soludo for bringing discipline, grace and a fresh perspective to governance in Anambra State.
He assured him of his unflinching support and continued collaboration between federal and the state governments.
Tinubu also commended the new leadership of INEC for conducting what election observers have described as credible poll.
The president, in the 12-paragraph congratulatory message stated: “I congratulate Professor Chukwuma Soludo on his re-election as the governor of Anambra State.
“The overwhelming victory he recorded in Saturday’s poll has now made him the third governor in the state’s political history to win a second term.
“I must also congratulate the people of Anambra State, the security agencies and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on the peaceful and successful conduct of the governorship election.
“Professor Soludo’s re-election is a testament to his visionary leadership and the significant progress the state has made under his guidance.
“Governor Soludo, the Solution, has demonstrated that indeed knowledge is power and that academic principles can be applied in serving the people, undergirding accountability, transparency and prudent management of people and resources.
“I visited Anambra State in May this year, where I inaugurated some projects executed by the Soludo administration. I highlighted the good thinking behind the landmark projects being embarked upon by Mr Solution. That experience is indeed remarkable and will remain indelible in my mind.
“I commend Governor Soludo for bringing discipline, grace, brilliance, and a fresh perspective to governance in Anambra. Under him, Anambra is living up to its motto as the Light of the Nation.
“I urge Governor Soludo to be magnanimous in victory and to seek the cooperation of his opponents in the just-concluded elections. I assure Governor Soludo of my unwavering support, and I look forward to continued collaboration between Anambra and the federal government.
“The victory of the opposition All Grand Progressives Alliance 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.
“I must also thank the new INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, and his team for conducting what observers have described as a credible election, based on the reports I have 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.”
But the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has expressed dissatisfaction with the conduct of the Anambra 2025 gubernatorial election, describing it as a heavily monetised process that undermined the very idea of democracy itself.
In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the party accused the incumbent and his party of engaging in widespread cash-for-votes, while also criticising the silence of security agencies and the inaction of electoral officials, which it said bordered on collusion.
The party said it has observed the conduct of the just concluded Anambra gubernatorial election with a deep sense of concern for the electoral process in Nigeria.
Abdullahi said what unfolded in Anambra was, regrettable, describing it as a cash-drenched spectacle that was more of a bazaar than an election that undermines the very essence of democracy.
”We wish to state categorically that, as has been widely reported and clearly shown to Nigerians and the international community, this election was highly monetized, with the incumbent and his party seen to have participated in several forms and styles of cash-for-votes.
”At polling units across the state, bundles of naira notes changed hands in full view. This was a brazen violation of the Electoral Act, whose foundation had been laid by the Governor himself well ahead of the election.
”Even more troubling was the apparent silence — and in some instances, visible inaction — of institutions mandated to enforce electoral integrity.
”Security operatives stood by as voters were harassed and compromised, while electoral officials, overwhelmed or indifferent, failed to uphold even the most basic standards.
”If this is the manner in which the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, intends to conduct the 2027 general election, then Nigerians have every reason to be worried about the future of our democracy, especially at a time when the state of our nation is under the microscope of the international community.
”On our part, the ADC remains committed to building a Nigeria where leadership is earned through integrity, inclusion, and service — not through the crude exchange of cash for votes,” he said.
