The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared Chukwuma Soludo, candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), winner of the Anambra State governorship election.
INEC announced that a total of 584,054 votes were collated across the state, with Soludo securing 422,664 votes, maintaining a decisive lead over his closest rival, Nicholas Ukachukwu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who garnered 99,445 votes. Other candidates include ADC: 8,208 votes and PDP: 1,401 votes.
State Collation Officer and Vice Chancellor of the University of Benin, Prof. Edogah Omoregie, announced the figures after the collation exercise on Sunday at the commission’s headquarters in Awka.
Results:
Dunukofia LGA
APC: 3,284 | APGA: 14,892 | LP: 71 | PDP: 16
Awka North LGA
APC: 3,661 | APGA: 15,895 | LP: 299 | PDP: 203
Njikoka LGA
APC: 5,687 | APGA: 22,213 | LP: 311 | PDP: 47
Nnewi South LGA
APC: 9,281 | APGA: 17,286 | LP: 73 | PDP: 12
Nnewi North LGA
APC: 5,441 | APGA: 20,320 | LP: 1,140 | PDP: 45
Ayamelum LGA
APC: 7,478 | APGA: 13,340 | LP: 117 | PDP: 13
13
Anambra East LGA
APC: 3,108 | APGA: 14,665 | LP: 304 | PDP: 207
Ogbaru LGA
APC: 3,768 | APGA: 22,803 | LP: 347 | PDP: 30
Oyi LGA
APC: 5,118 | APGA: 18,882 | LP: 3,641 | PDP: 16
Orumba North LGA
APC: 2,615 | APGA: 24,664 | LP: 131 | PDP: 17
Orumba South LGA
APC: 2,828 | APGA: 19,818 | LP: 16 | PDP: 18
Aguata LGA
APC: 4,125 | APGA: 35,559 | LP: 124 | PDP: 82
Onitsha North LGA
APC: 4,677 | APGA: 24,225 | LP: 500 | PDP: 111
111
Onitsha South LGA
APC: 4,156 | APGA: 15,742 | LP: 615 | PDP: 73
Anaocha LGA
APC: 5,956 | APGA: 20,118 | LP: 483 | PDP: 42
Awka South LGA
APC: 5,038 | APGA: 27,896 | LP: 520 | PDP: 63
Idemili South LGA
APC: 6,015 | APGA: 17,224 | LP: 276 | PDP: 40
Ekwusigo LGA
APC: 2,973 | APGA: 18,749 | LP: 194 | PDP: 70
Idemili North LGA
APC: 6,383 | APGA: 25,498 | LP: 1,275 | PDP: 125
Ihiala LGA
APC: 4,425 | APGA: 23,557 | LP: 135 | PDP: —
Anambra West LGA
APC: 16,595 | APGA: 71,365 | YPP: 2,871 | ADC: 152
INEC is expected to formally declare him the winner once the final collation and verification of figures are completed.
According to electoral guidelines, a candidate must win the highest number of votes and secure at least 25 per cent of the votes in two-thirds of the state’s 21 LGAs to be declared the winner. By sweeping all LGAs, Soludo has comfortably met the constitutional requirement.
The governor, who was first elected about four years ago, is now poised to begin a second and final term in office when his current tenure ends next March.
Saturday’s election saw Soludo, the candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), face strong challengers, including Nicholas Ukachukwu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and George Moghalu of the Labour Party. In total, 16 political parties participated in the poll.
Reports from across the state indicate that the election was largely peaceful, though there were isolated allegations of vote-buying in some areas.
Observer groups, including YIAGA Africa, estimated voter turnout to be between 20 and 23 per cent, showing moderate participation by registered voters.
With results from all local governments already in his favour, Governor Soludo’s re-election appears sealed, pending INEC’s official declaration.
