Soludo’s Anambra win sparks political storm
By: Abudu Olalekan
Chukwuma Soludo cruises to a second term in Anambra’s governorship race, but opposition cries foul over vote-buying and irregularities. From Tinubu’s cheers to ADC’s outrage—get the full chaotic scoop on this election aftermath.
Election night in Anambra. The air thick with anticipation. Saturday, November 8, 2025. Polls close. Tension builds. Then, the results roll in. Governor Chukwuma Soludo? He sweeps it all. Every single one of the 21 local government areas. Landslide. Second term locked in. But wait. Not everyone’s popping champagne. A storm’s brewing. Political fireworks. Accusations flying like confetti.
INEC’s Returning Officer, Edoba Omoregie—Vice Chancellor at University of Benin—steps up. Announces it clear. Soludo meets the bar. Wins big in over two-thirds of the LGAs. Votes? 422,664 for the APGA man. Closest challenger, Nicholas Ukachukwu from APC, trails with 99,445. YPP’s Paul Chukwuma gets 37,753. Labour Party’s George Moghalu? 10,576. And ADC’s John Nwosu? Just 8,208. Sixteen parties in the mix. But Soludo dominates.
Hours later, President Bola Tinubu jumps in. Congrats pour from Aso Rock. Calls it “an affirmation of visionary leadership.” Pledges tighter federal-Anambra ties. Praises voters, security, INEC. Urges Soludo to stay magnanimous. “Knowledge is power,” he says, nodding to the ex-CBN boss’s smarts. Even shouts out new INEC chair, Prof. Joash Amupitan. Keep raising the bar, he adds. For 2027.
Soludo’s basking in it. Victory speech in Awka Sunday. Hails INEC as the best yet. “Your first impression? Emphatic.” Thanks Tinubu, the “true democrat.” Shouts to the ICT team for real-time IReV uploads. Transparent, he says. Congrats rivals too. “Anambra way—we fight hard, then celebrate.” Hand of fellowship extended. Work together, for the state’s good.
Nigeria Governors’ Forum chimes in. Chairman AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq leads the cheers. “Deserved victory.” Proof Anambra’s embracing democracy. Commends INEC, security. Peaceful all around.
But hold up. Not all rosy. Opposition’s fuming. ADC’s first out the gate. National Publicity Secretary Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi drops a statement. Calls the whole thing a “cash-drenched spectacle.” Bazaar, not ballot. Widespread vote-buying, they claim. Bundles of naira swapping hands at polls. From N3,000 to 20,000 a pop. Incumbent and APGA behind it, allegedly. Security? Stood by idle. INEC officials? Overwhelmed or worse. “Brazen violation of the Electoral Act.” If this is 2027 preview, democracy’s in trouble. International eyes watching.
Their candidate, John Nwosu? Addresses press in Nnewi. Rejects it flat out. “National embarrassment.” Moneybags victory, he says. Process corrupt. Manipulation everywhere. “True victory? It’s about integrity.” Not this shambles. He won’t say next moves. But vows to fight on. No surrender. People deserve free choice. No fear, no bribes. Slams institutions for failing the ballot’s sanctity. End this rot, or no just society.
Labour Party’s George Moghalu echoes the rage. From his Nnewi office. Dissatisfied? Understatement. Rejects results entirely. Vote-buying rampant. Underage kids with voter cards, voting away. Some ballots? LP name sans logo—voters confused. “Alarming level.” Contested before, but this? Different beast. Detailed report coming soon from agents.
APC’s Ukachukwu? Not conceding yet. Collating data. Claims thugs blocked his supporters. Intimidated his running mate. Arrested an agent, held till after polls. “Appreciable effort,” he says. Scored near 100k without buying votes—who’s the real culprit? Violence hit APC folks. Houses burned. Arrests? Mostly them. But APC’s rising, he insists. Here to stay. Must consult those 99,445 voters. Anambra forward.
Even a UN observer weighs in. Jim Oko, from Nouvel Perspective Int. Scores it “very highly.” In line with global bests. Peaceful conduct, collation, announcement. Compared to US polls? Solid. Glad, he says.
Twist at the end. Lagos APC teases Peter Obi. Their spokesman, Seye Oladejo, says Obidient Movement’s crumbling. LP’s poor show in Obi’s backyard? Grassroots fading. Social media buzz ain’t enough. Build structure, he advises. Tinubu’s focused on reforms. APC gaining trust.
Soludo’s now the third Anambra gov with a second term. Historic. But the storm rages. Vote-buying threats to 2027. Institutional lapses. Will probes follow? Or fade away? Anambra’s light of the nation—dimmed a bit? Reportersroom’s tracking. Stay sharp. Elections echo long after votes count.
