Guber Polls: Soludo’s Victory Sparks Fresh Crisis As Tinubu Issues Decisive Statement

Opposition parties on Sunday condemned the conduct of the Anambra 2025 governorship election, warning that the level of vote-buying and institutional complacency witnessed during the exercise posed a serious threat to the credibility of the 2027 general elections, as reported by The PUNCH.

The incumbent governor, Chukwuma Soludo, won in all the 21 local government areas in a landslide to seal a second term ticket.

The condemnation came just hours after President Bola Tinubu congratulated Soludo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance on his re-election, describing the outcome as “an affirmation of visionary leadership” and pledging closer collaboration between the Federal Government and Anambra State.

The Independent National Electoral Commission’s Returning Officer, Edoba Omoregie, Vice Chancellor of the University of Benin, while announcing Soludo’s victory, noted that the incumbent satisfied the electoral requirements, having won in more than two-thirds of all local government areas across the state.

Soludo polled 422,664 votes to emerge the winner, with the closest rival, Nicholas Ukachukwu of the All Progressives Congress scoring 99,445 votes to come second.

Paul Chukwuma, the candidate of the Young Progressives Party secured 37,753 votes.

While the Labour Party candidate, George Moghalu scored 10,576 votes, John Nwosu, the candidate of the coalition-backed African Democratic Congress (ADC) polled 8,208 votes.

According to INEC, 16 candidates from 16 political parties participated in the election.

ADC rejects results

But the ADC, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, alleged that the poll was reduced to a marketplace of cash-for-votes.

The statement partly read, “The African Democratic Congress has observed the conduct of the just-concluded Anambra gubernatorial election with a deep sense of concern for the electoral process in Nigeria.

“What unfolded in Anambra was, regrettably, a cash-drenched spectacle that was more of a bazaar than an election. This undermines the very essence of democracy.”

The party accused the incumbent and his party of orchestrating widespread financial inducement.

“We wish to state categorically that, as has been widely reported and clearly shown to Nigerians and the international community, this election was highly monetised, 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,” the statement added.

Abdullahi faulted the conduct of security agencies and electoral officials.

He said, “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 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.”

Also, the ADC candidate in the election, John Nwosu, rejected the outcome of the election, describing it as a “national embarrassment.”

Nwosu, who addressed journalists in Nnewi, on Sunday, alleged that Soludo’s victory was aided by money.

He noted that in almost every polling unit, voters were openly induced with cash ranging from N3,000 to N20,000, turning the entire process into a marketplace rather than a democratic exercise.

Although he did not state his next line of action, he added, “True victory is judged not by the outcome, but by the integrity of the process.

“An election riddled with corruption, manipulation, and vote trading cannot and will never represent the voice of the people. It was a shambolic election that conferred a shambolic mandate.

“I, John Chuma Nwosu, the governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress, hereby categorically reject the outcome of the just-concluded gubernatorial election in Anambra State.

“What took place yesterday (Saturday) was a ruse and total subversion of the people’s will, marred by massive vote buying and shameless financial inducement at polling units across the state. By every account, the people have not spoken.”

He added, “This struggle continues. We will not surrender. We will not be silent. Our movement will keep pressing until the people of Anambra can freely choose their leaders without fear or inducement.”

Nwosu condemned in strong terms the failure of relevant institutions to safeguard the sanctity of the ballot, lamenting that when the system fails to uphold fairness, it loses the moral right to declare winners.

He called for an end to this culture of electoral corruption if the country truly desires a prosperous and just society.

The candidate of the Labour Party, Dr George Moghalu, also rejected the results of the election.

Speaking to journalists in his Nnewi office on Sunday, Moghalu said he was dissatisfied with the conduct of the election and alleged that several irregularities occurred.

He said, “The exercise was marred by widespread vote-buying and reports of underage voting in some areas. The November 8, 2025 governorship election in Anambra State, in my view, fell short of expectations.

“I hereby reject it in its entirety. I contested in previous elections, but this one was different. The level of vote buying was alarming.”

“Children who were not supposed to be carrying voter cards were openly seen with them and were allowed to vote. These are issues that raise questions about the integrity of the process.

“I received reports from my team that in some polling units the LP name appeared on the ballot paper without the party’s logo, making it difficult for voters to identify the party’s position on the ballot.”

Moghalu stressed that he would release a more detailed statement after receiving a comprehensive report from his agents across the state.

APC studying outcome

However, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Nicholas Ukachukwu, said he was gathering information from his party agents on the outcome of the poll. He alleged that his supporters were prevented from voting by thugs during the poll.

“My supporters, including my running mate, were intimidated by thugs and prevented from casting their votes in their polling units. They arrested one of our agents and kept him somewhere until after the election,” Ukachukwu said.

“When you look at where we are coming from, you will understand that we made an appreciable effort. What happened is a story for another day.

“We are still collating data and gathering information from our party agents, and after that, we will know what to do. I am still consulting with my party to know the steps or actions to take.

“For the first time in the history of the election, the APC scored almost 100,000 votes without any inducement. But they accused us of vote-buying. Can the APC candidate who is not a sitting governor buy votes?

“If the APC candidate bought votes like the APGA candidate, the result would have been obvious. And if you see the level of violence, the people they arrested were all APC members. The house they burnt belonged to an APC member. The woman defeated them in her polling booth, but they went to burn down her house. Was it the APC that burnt down the house?

“Those who burnt the house have not been arrested. Whatever decision I am going to take, I must carry those 99,445 voters who voted for me along. They voted for me because they want Anambra to move forward. I must consult them. Like I said, I will hear from them. APC is here and it’s here to stay.”

UN observer

A United Nations election observer, Jim Oko, scored the poll “very highly”, saying the conduct was “in line with international best practices.”

Oko, the national coordinator of Nouvel Perspective Int., a UN-accredited election observer organisation, said, “With the fact that most of us have monitored a lot of elections all over the world, especially the US election that was a very high level one, we can conveniently state that everything was how it should be – peacefully done, peacefully collated, peacefully announced and peacefully accepted. So, we are very glad over this”.

Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu congratulated Soludo on his re-election, calling the result “an affirmation of visionary leadership” and promising closer federal–state collaboration with Anambra.

In a statement he signed on Sunday, Tinubu praised voters, security agencies and INEC for a peaceful exercise and urged the governor to be “magnanimous in victory.”

He also commended the new INEC chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, and charged the commission to sustain higher standards in future polls.

The overwhelming victory that Soludo recorded in Saturday’s poll has now made him the third governor in the state’s political history to win a second term.

Tinubu wrote, “I must also congratulate the people of Anambra State, the security agencies, and the Independent National Electoral Commission 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.”

The President commended Soludo for bringing discipline, grace, brilliance, and a fresh perspective to governance in Anambra, saying, “Under him, Anambra is living up to its motto as the Light of the Nation.”

Assuring Soludo of his support, the President urged the former Central Bank chief to be magnanimous in victory and to seek the cooperation of his opponents in the just-concluded elections.

He stated, “I assure Governor Soludo of my unwavering support, and I look forward to continued collaboration between Anambra and the Federal Government.”

Tinubu also thanked the new INEC Chairman, Amupitan, and his team for conducting what, according to him, 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,” said Tinubu.

Soludo hails INEC

Basking in the euphoria of his re-election, Soludo hailed the conduct of Saturday’s poll, describing it as the best organised by INEC.

Soludo made the remarks during his victory speech in Awka on Sunday after being declared the winner of the election by INEC.

He expressed appreciation to President Tinubu, describing him as a “true democrat” who demonstrated commitment to ensuring a free and fair election in Anambra.

He said, “The people have spoken and their votes counted. I thank INEC, especially the new chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan. I am excited that your first impression was an emphatic one, as INEC delivered.

“This is the best election INEC has organised in Anambra so far. We commend INEC’s ICT department for ensuring transparency through the real-time upload of results on the IReV portal.”

The governor also congratulated the other candidates, saying politics in Anambra should remain a contest of ideas, not enmity.

“Sixteen of us were on the ballot, and obviously one person will win. In the Anambra way, we fight like there will be no tomorrow, but afterward, we meet and celebrate.

“I extend a hand of fellowship to all of you, as I’m prepared to work with everyone for the greater good of our dear state,” he added.

Govs congratulate Soludo

The Nigeria Governors’ Forum on Sunday congratulated Governor Soludo on his re-election.

In a congratulatory message on Sunday by the Forum’s Chairman and Governor of Kwara State, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, the governors said Soludo’s victory was an indication of his popularity among the electorate.

“The Nigeria Governors’ Forum sends its hearty congratulations to His Excellency, Governor (Prof) Charles Soludo, on his victory at the Saturday gubernatorial election in Anambra State.

“We are confident that this deserved victory will enable His Excellency to consolidate on his great achievements across different sectors.

“We also congratulate the people of Anambra and all the stakeholders on the orderly and peaceful conduct of the election — another proof that Nigerians have fully embraced democracy and rule of law as a choice form of governance.

“We also commend the Independent National Electoral Commission and the security agencies for the orderly electoral process so far”, the statement read.

APC teases Obi

Meanwhile, the Lagos State chapter of the APC has advised the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, to reconsider his 2027 presidential ambition.

The party’s spokesperson, Seye Oladejo, gave the advice in a statement on Sunday in Lagos, reacting to the Labour Party’s performance in Saturday’s governorship election in Anambra.

Oladejo said the outcome reflected a decline in the Labour Party’s grassroots support and in Obi’s Obidient Movement.

“The result, especially in Obi’s polling unit, showed that LP’s structure in his base was crumbling. Social media popularity cannot replace consistent political organisation and voter engagement.

“The Anambra election offers important lessons on structure and performance,” he said.

He added that while President Tinubu remained focused on governance and reforms, other political actors needed to build capacity.

“APC’s showing in Anambra demonstrated increasing public confidence in the party’s leadership.