INEC declares Soludo winner of Anambra governorship election

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo, candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), winner of the November 8, 2025, Anambra State governorship election.

Announcing the results early Sunday at the INEC collation centre in Awka, the State Returning Officer, Florence Obi, said Soludo scored 422,664 votes to defeat his closest rival, Nicholas Ukachukwu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who polled 99,445 votes.

Valentine Ozigbo, Labour Party candidate, followed with 42,210 votes, while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Senator Uche Ekwunife, garnered 18,765 votes.

Obi declared: “That Charles Chukwuma Soludo of APGA, having satisfied the requirements of the law and scored the highest number of valid votes cast, is hereby declared winner and returned elected as the Governor of Anambra State.”

The former Central Bank Governor clinched victory in all 21 local government areas of the state, consolidating his hold as one of the most dominant political figures in Anambra politics.

The election, which observers described as largely peaceful and orderly, recorded relatively low voter turnout compared to the 2021 exercise. Civil society groups, including Yiaga Africa and the Situation Room, commended the smooth deployment of election materials but noted isolated incidents of vote buying and delayed commencement in some polling units.

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Soludo’s re-election marks his second consecutive term in office, affirming the popularity of the APGA-led administration in the state.

In his acceptance speech at the Government House, Awka, the governor dedicated his victory to the people of Anambra and promised to sustain reforms in education, infrastructure, and economic development.

“This victory is a call for deeper service and renewed commitment to the transformation of our beloved state,” Soludo said. “Together, we shall continue to make Anambra the light of the nation.”

The Anambra governorship election was contested by 18 political parties, though the race was largely seen as a four-horse contest among APGA, APC, LP, and PDP.

Political analysts say Soludo’s landslide victory could strengthen APGA’s position ahead of the 2027 general elections and reinforce its identity as Nigeria’s foremost regional party.

Ruth Tene Natsa

Ruth Tene, Assistant Editor, Agric/Solid Minerals/INEC Ruth Tene is an award-winning journalist with over 15 years experience in developmental reporting across several newsrooms, as a reporter, editor and other managerial roles. She holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Journalism from the University of Maiduguri among several other certifications She has attended several trainings and certifications both locally and internationally and has been recognized for her impactful work in humanitarian reporting, receiving the Gold Award for Humanitarian Services from the Amazing Grace Foundation. She is also a recipient of the Home Alliance Fellowship, reflecting her commitment to fostering a more humane, safer and more sustainable planet. An active member of professional journalism bodies, Ruth is affiliated with the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), the National Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), and the Agricultural Correspondents Association of Nigeria (ACAN), where she continues to advocate for excellence, ethical reporting, and development-focused journalism.