APGA candidate triumphs with over 422,000 votes; INEC declares him winner of the November 8, 2025 governorship election amid low voter turnout and vote-buying claims…..
Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo has secured a second term in office after being declared winner of the November 8, 2025 Anambra State governorship election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Announcing the results in the early hours of Sunday, the State Returning Officer and Vice Chancellor of the University of Benin, Omoregie Edoba, confirmed that Soludo, candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), satisfied all legal requirements and polled the highest number of valid votes in the contest.
“I, Prof. Edoba Omoregie, Returning Officer for the Anambra State Governorship Election, hereby declare that Soludo Charles Chukwuma of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), having satisfied the requirements of the law and scored the highest number of votes cast, is hereby declared winner and returned elected,” he said at INEC’s state headquarters in Awka.
Landslide for Soludo
According to official results, Soludo secured 422,664 votes, defeating his closest rival, Nicholas Ukachukwu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who garnered 99,445 votes.
The Young Progressives Party (YPP) candidate, Paul Chukwuma, came third with 37,753 votes, while John Nwosu of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) scored 8,208 votes.
Other contenders included George Moghalu of the Labour Party (LP) with 10,576 votes and Jude Ezenwafor of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who got 1,401 votes.
Out of 2,788,864 registered voters, 598,229 were accredited for the election. INEC reported that 595,298 votes were cast, of which 584,054 were valid and 11,244 were rejected.
Soludo’s commanding performance saw him win in all 21 local government areas of the state, reaffirming APGA’s two-decade-long political dominance in Anambra.
Celebrations and Reactions
Following the announcement, jubilant supporters flooded Soludo’s country home in Isuofia, Aguata Local Government Area, celebrating the victory with chants and fireworks.
The re-election marks a continuation of APGA’s 19-year grip on Anambra politics. Soludo, a former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), was first elected in 2021, winning 19 of the 21 LGAs.
The 65-year-old economist pledged to consolidate on the achievements of his first term, focusing on security, infrastructure, and job creation.
“This victory is for every Anambra citizen. We have started a journey of transformation, and together, we will take Anambra to greater heights,” he said shortly after the declaration.
Security and Vote-Buying Allegations
The election was conducted under tight security, with 45,000 police officers deployed across the 21 LGAs. While INEC and security agencies described the exercise as peaceful, reports of vote-buying and voter apathy surfaced in parts of the state.
Both Soludo and other candidates had earlier raised concerns about the monetisation of the electoral process.
APC candidate Ukachukwu said:
“If there’s no seller, there cannot be a buyer. Some people chose to sell their conscience for money. That’s worse than those who buy votes.”
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) confirmed the arrest of three suspects for alleged vote-buying and stated they would be charged to court.
INEC, however, dismissed claims of widespread irregularities, insisting there was no credible evidence to support the allegations.
“Vote-buying is a serious offence, but those making accusations must present proof,” said Queen Agwu, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Anambra State.
Next Steps
INEC confirmed that the results were uploaded to its Results Viewing Portal (IReV) for public access and transparency.
Soludo and his running mate, Onyeka Ibezim, are expected to receive their Certificates of Return from INEC in the coming days.
With this victory, Soludo will continue as governor until 2030, steering the state through a second four-year term.
Breakdown of Election Statistics
- Total Registered Voters: 2,788,864
- Accredited Voters: 598,229
- Valid Votes: 584,054
- Rejected Votes: 11,244
- Total Votes Cast: 595,298
Party Performance:
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| APGA | Charles Chukwuma Soludo | 422,664 |
| APC | Nicholas Ukachukwu | 99,445 |
| YPP | Paul Chukwuma | 37,753 |
| LP | George Moghalu | 10,576 |
| ADC | John Nwosu | 8,208 |
| PDP | Jude Ezenwafor | 1,401 |
| Others | — | < 1,000 each |
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