Opposition parties rejected the Anambra governorship election results, alleging widespread vote buying and violence, while INEC declared Governor Charles Soludo of APGA the winner.
According to a report from TRIBUNE ONLINE, Governor Charles Soludo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) was declared winner of the Anambra State governorship election, polling 422,664 votes. Opposition candidates from the All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), African Democratic Congress (ADC), and Labour Party (LP) rejected the outcome, citing violence, vote buying, and irregularities.
APC candidate Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu, who scored 99,445 votes, said, “The just concluded governorship election in Anambra was massively marred with vote buying and violence that resulted in an unprovoked attack on one of my strongest female supporters that led to the burning of her house.” ADC candidate John Nwosu, with 8,208 votes, described the poll as “a ruse and a subversion of the people’s will” and alleged cash inducements ranging from N3,000 to N20,000 at polling units. LP candidate Dr George Moghalu highlighted underage voting and missing party logos on ballots, stating, “The exercise was marred by widespread vote buying…fell short of expectations.”
Soludo, speaking in Awka, praised INEC and pledged to work with other candidates. He said, “This victory is for the people of Anambra…With this renewed trust and partnership, we will move into high gear to deliver more.”
Meanwhile, SERAP urged INEC to refer allegations of vote buying to anti-graft agencies for investigation, warning that impunity undermines democratic integrity. President Bola Tinubu, Governors Nwifuru and Abiodun congratulated Soludo, describing the victory as “a testament to his visionary leadership.”