The Independent National Electoral Commission has announced Anambra State Governor, Charles Chukwuma Soludo, as winner of the November 8th Governorship election in the State.
Governor Soludo according to results from the 21 Local Government areas of the State won in all the Local Government areas of the State defeating 15 other candidates to secure his second term.
Governor Soludo polled a total of 422, 644 Votes to beat all challengers in a landslide victory with his closest challenger, Nicholas Ukachukwu, of the All Progressives Congress polling 99, 445 Votes.
Soludo a former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria and former Chief Economic Adviser to former President, Olusegun Obasanjo, is the third governor under the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance to govern Anambra State after Peter Obi and Willie Obiano.
Anambra State the home of the former Biafran Leader, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, has stayed loyal to the party the late Biafran leader founded during his lifetime and has once again confirmed that by choosing Charles Chukwuma Soludo for a second term in office.
The final result was announced by the returning officer for the Election Professor Edoba Bright Omoregie, Vice Chacellor of the University of Benin and a Senior Advocate Of Nigeria.
The All Progressives Congress has declared that it will put an end to the 19-year reign of the All Progressives Grand Alliance in Anambra State.
The National Chairman of the APC, Nentawe Yilwatda, said the party would defeat APGA in the November 8, 2025, governorship election.
Yilwatda stated this on Friday at the All Saints Anglican Church Cathedral, Onitsha, during the APC governorship campaign rally for its candidate, Nicholas Ukachukwu.
He described the APC as “a messenger of hope,” stating that he was in the state to deliver the message of hope.
“The APC will uproot APGA in the next remaining eight days and 196 hours to the November 8 governorship election. We in the APC cannot afford to allow APGA to continue governing an important state like Anambra as an adopted son when we have our own son in the person of Ukachukwu.”
Speaking at the rally, the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, said the APC couldn’t afford to lose Anambra, adding that he would like the state to become the 25th APC-controlled state.
Ukachukwu expressed optimism that the APC would soon replace APGA’s “deceitful nonperformance” in the state with a high level of development in the nearest future.
“We will soon replace insecurity, multiple taxation, corruption, and nonperformance with adequate security, steady power supply, industrial development, and an agricultural chain,” Ukachukwu stated.
Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State and Chairman of the APC Governors’ Forum assured the electorate in the state that their votes would count in the coming election.
The State Chairman of the APC, Chief Basil Ejidike, and the National Coordinator of Ikemba Front, Arinze Awogu, in their separate speeches, expressed optimism that the APC would take over the Anambra Government House at Agu-Awka this time around.
Meanwhile, the state governor and APGA candidate, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, mocked the APC and its candidate for flagging off their campaign seven days before the election.
Soludo, while speaking at the APGA campaign rally held at Abagana, Njikoka Local Government Area of the state, said the APC campaign was proof that the party was not serious about the contest.
He urged the people to come out en masse on November 8 and vote out the APC and other opposition parties contesting the race.
Soludo said, “This is shocking and a mockery for a political party like the APC to flag off its campaign seven days before the voting process. Though it’s not a surprise, because its candidate is in the race to gain cheap popularity.
“Please, on the day of the election, step out en masse, collect their money, eat it, and vote them out.
“What I can tell you here today is that I have no competitor in this governorship race. What you have seen in the last three years of my administration in terms of transformation is evidence that we will win the election — and we can only win when we all go out and vote.” (Punch)
Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, has downplayed the chances of rival candidates in the forthcoming November 8 governorship election, saying those presenting themselves as contestants are only seeking appointments and cheap popularity.
Soludo, who is seeking re-election on the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), made the remarks on Saturday at the Chuba Ikpeazu Sports Complex, Onitsha, during a political rally organised by the Anambra State Market Amalgamated Traders Association, where traders endorsed his second term bid.
Addressing the large gathering of market leaders and traders, the governor reiterated that he has no real opponents in the poll.
“The journey to the November 8 election is still far. We are not going to take it for granted. Although we have no contestants, we are going into the election with all seriousness.
“Every other contestant is looking for an appointment, but instead of them to come and tell us what they are looking for, they are claiming to be contesting for the election.
“Our opponents don’t have a certificate. Gone are the days when charlatans rule Anambra; this is the state of the great Nnamdi Azikiwe, Chinua Achebe, Alex Ekwueme; no unknown character will be allowed to rule Anambra again. They should go and continue their land-grabbing business and stop contesting to be governor.”
Soludo also assured traders of a new tax system where no one would be compelled to pay cash.
Thanking the people for their support in the August 16 by-elections, which APGA candidates won, the governor said the victory reaffirmed the party’s dominance in the state.
“The election in Onitsha became a national election, because the election was about leadership by selection against leadership by competence. Election is not about sympathy, it’s not about ‘oh, vote for me, my husband is no more’… But I am glad you guys voted for competence over sentiment.
“Some people who were ready to write result said it was a mock election for November, but they were defeated at their wards and polling units. APGA is our address. APGA is Anambra and Anambra is APGA,” the governor said.
He further dismissed threats from opposition parties, branding them “nomadic politicians.”
“Last time, it was Labour Party everywhere, they were making noise. I call them the nomadic politicians; every election year, they enter into another party. But for us, we are APGA and we are saying APGA is Anambra and Anambra is APGA.
“Election period is business for some people, after the election, they will write on their complimentary card, ‘former governorship candidate’ and be begging for appointment here and there.
“Between now and November, you will be seeing new projects we are embarking on across the state. Keep the markets clean, keep it safe and most importantly, open your market on Mondays, there is nothing like Monday sit-at-home,” Soludo said. (Vanguard)
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