Anambra Governorship Election: Soludo Leads as INEC Uploads 99% of Results Amid Alleged Vote-Buying and Violence

The candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in the Anambra State Governorship Election, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, is currently leading as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) continues uploading results from Saturday’s polls.

As of press time, INEC had uploaded 99.14% of results to its Result Viewing Portal (IReV), despite reports of vote-buying and other electoral infractions. Although materials arrived early at most polling units, voter turnout remained low across the state, even after increased PVC collection.

Preliminary results showed Soludo leading in his strongholds across Aguata LGA in Anambra South and parts of Anambra Central Senatorial District. Anambra has 21 LGAs with 2,802,790 registered voters, including 140,370 new registrants across 326 wards. Elections were held in 5,718 polling units, as two had no registered voters.

Soludo secured victory in his polling unit at Isuofia, winning 417 votes, while APC’s Nicholas Ukachukwu trailed with 4 votes. Ukachukwu, however, won his unit in Osumenyi, Nnewi South LGA, with 108 votes, while APGA recorded 4. Labour Party candidate Dr. George Moghalu lost his polling unit, polling 22 votes against Soludo’s 57.

Across LGAs such as Ekwusigo, Njikoka, Aguata, Ogbaru, and Onitsha, APGA maintained a comfortable lead, polling significantly higher numbers than APC. In Orumba South, APGA recorded over 1,700 votes across three wards, while APC trailed with just over 200. Early tallies indicated a two-horse race between APGA and APC, with Soludo maintaining a wide margin.

Vote-buying allegations marred the process, as EFCC operatives arrested three suspects for allegedly distributing cash to voters in Njikoka, Oyi, and Dunukofia LGAs. Peter Obi condemned the monetisation of votes, describing it as “selling the future for N30,000.” Soludo also alleged that some voters were paid N15,000 in Nnewi South but expressed confidence in a landslide victory.

YPP’s Paul Chukwuma praised INEC’s logistics but accused local government chairmen of voter intimidation, while APC’s Ukachukwu decried “widespread vote-buying” that he said undermined democracy.

Tragedy struck in Orumba South when gunmen killed a councillor while he attempted to vote. A corps member and a Yiaga Africa observer were also injured in Ihiala after police allegedly fired teargas at the INEC secretariat.

In Njikoka, elderly voters struggled with BVAS recognition issues, while in Anaocha, a 96-year-old woman broke down in tears after being denied accreditation for not having a valid card. Despite these challenges, some elderly and disabled citizens expressed determination to vote.

Meanwhile, traders in Onitsha defied movement restrictions to open makeshift stalls, citing the need to sustain their livelihoods, while some youths in Awka were seen playing football instead of participating in the election.