*Tinubu congratulates him and says his victory validates his visionary leadership.
*NGF, task winner, Abiodun, and Ngige greet
*ADC warns of 2027 threat while dismissing the exercise as “Cash-and-Carry Democracy.”
James Sowole in Abeokuta, Deji Elumoye, Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja, Chuks Okocha in Awka, and Hammed Shittu in Ilorin
The influence of incumbency in Nigeria’s political system was strengthened this past weekend when Professor Chukwuma Soludo, the governor of Anambra State, won a landslide reelection for an additional four-year term.
The influence of incumbency has continued to be a recurring aspect in the country’s political process, despite the fact that a few governors have failed the reelection test since the country returned to civil government in 1999.
At least 20 governors have failed to serve a second four-year term since 1999, albeit for different reasons.
Chief Bisi Akande (Osun), Lam Adesina (Oyo), Olusegun Osoba (Ogun), Adebayo Adefarati (Ondo), Niyi Adebayo (Ekiti), Rasheed Ladoja (Oyo), Gboyega Oyetola (Osun), Chinwoke Mbadinuju (Anambra), Timipre Sylva (Bayelsa), Abubakar Hashidu (Gombe), Ikedi Ohakim (Imo), Idris Wada (Kogi), Bindow Jibrilla (Adamawa), and Mohammed Lawal (Kwara) were victims of court rulings.
For instance, Olagunsoye Oyinlola was dismissed by the court in the middle of his second term in Osun. The court also dismissed Professor Oserheimen Osunbor, who had just finished his first term as governor of Edo State.
Celestine Omehia of Rivers State met a similar end after being fired just a few months into his first tenure. Additionally, Dr. Chris Ngige experienced a taste of the court’s decision when he was fired as governor of Anambra State.
Sadly, former Lagos State governor Akinwunmi Ambode was unable to get the party’s ticket for reelection, hence he was not allowed to run for office again.
Although they did not immediately return to government for a second term, Ayodele Fayose and Kayode Fayemi, both of whom are from Ekiti State, did return after a few years out of office to finish their second mandates back-to-back.
Despite the fact that former President Goodluck Jonathan is still the first president to be defeated in office, the incumbency power has always and continues to play a significant role in both the governorship and presidential elections.
However, notwithstanding the tension that preceded the exercise, Soludo’s victory has confirmed the belief that incumbency power plays a crucial role in elections in this region of the world.
After the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) proclaimed Soludo the victor of the November 8 Anambra State governorship election, he was granted a second term.
Soludo defeated his nearest opponent, Nicholas Ukachukwu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), with 422,664 votes in the 21 local government areas of the South-East state, according to the results released by INEC early yesterday morning.
Omoregie Edoba, the returning officer and vice chancellor of the University of Benin, announced Soludo as the exercise’s victor following the compilation of the results from the state’s local government districts.
Professor Edoba addressed a crowd at the INEC state headquarters in Awka, the state capital, where the election results were compiled, saying, “I hereby declare that Soludo Chukwuma Charles of the APGA, having satisfied the requirements of the law, is hereby declared the winner and is returned elected.”
With 422,664 votes, All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) candidate Soludo defeated Nicholas Ukachukwu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who received 99,445 votes.
John Nwosu of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) received 8,208 votes, while Paul Chukwuma of the Young Progressives Party (YPP) received 37,753.
Jude Ezenwafor of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) received 1,401 votes, while George Moghalu of the Labour Party (LP) received 10,576.
There was celebration at the governor’s home in the Isoufia hamlet of Aguata LGA shortly after the results were revealed.
Soludo has been granted a new four-year term in the Light House as a result of the results.
For Anambra’s top position, sixteen parties and their candidates ran.
In addition to Soludo and Ukachukwu, there were Paul Chukwuma from the Young Progressives Party (YPP) and John Nwosu from the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
George Moghalu of the Labour Party (LP), Echezona Oti of the Allied People’s Movement (APM), Ms. Chioma Ifemeludike of the African Action Congress (AAC), Jeff Nweke of Action Alliance (AA), Charles Onyeze of the Accord Party (AP), Geoff Onyejegbu of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), and Jude Ezenwafor of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) were also cleared by INEC.
Martin Ugwoji of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), Ndidi Olieh of the National Rescue Movement (NRM), Jerry Okeke of the Boot Party (BP), Vincent Chukwurah of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), and Chukwudubem Nweke of the Action Peoples Party (APP) were also running.
On November 10, 2021, Soludo was elected governor for the first time, winning 19 of the 21 LGAs.
After months of electioneering dominated by discussions about the situation in Anambra, the 65-year-old former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) emerged victorious.
He was accused by his detractors and opponents of ignoring the economic hardships and insecurity that Anambra’s citizens face.
However, relying on APGA’s 19-year hold on power in the state, the governor pledged to build on his accomplishments in the first four years if re-elected.
Voter apathy, excessive security, and alleged vote-buying
But in order to guarantee a smooth election, the police had sent out 45,000 officers.
The election was tainted by allegations of vote-buying and voter apathy, despite being mostly peaceful.
Concerns about purported election monetization were voiced by a number of candidates, including Soludo.
Similar sentiments were expressed by observers, who accused political parties of persuading voters to support them.
“A buyer cannot exist if there is no vendor. Even worse than those who purchase votes, some people have made the decision to sell their conscience.
“You lose your voice as a citizen when you renounce your entitlement to money. Like other candidates, Ukachukwu of the APC stated, “You can’t cry later, society must be blamed for encouraging this.”
Tinubu: Soludo’s Re-election Confirms His Visionary Guidance
In the meantime, Soludo has received congratulations on his election as governor of Anambra State from President Bola Tinubu and a number of other notable Nigerians.
In a personally signed letter of congratulations, the president praised Soludo for bringing grace, discipline, and a new outlook to Anambra State governance.
He gave him his word that the federal and state governments would continue to work together.
Additionally, Tinubu praised INEC’s new leadership for carrying out a poll that election observers deemed legitimate.
“I congratulate Professor Chukwuma Soludo on his re-election as the governor of Anambra State,” the president wrote in the 12-paragraph letter.
He is now the third governor in the state’s political history to earn a second term thanks to his resounding victory in Saturday’s ballot.
“I also want to express my gratitude to the people of Anambra State, the security forces, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for a successful and peaceful governorship election.
“The state has advanced significantly under Professor Soludo’s leadership, and his reelection is evidence of his visionary leadership.
“Governor Soludo, the Solution, has shown that knowledge really is power and that academic concepts can be used to serve the public, supporting responsibility, openness, and responsible resource and personnel management.
In May of this year, I traveled to Anambra State and officially opened a few projects carried out by the Soludo administration. I emphasized the sound reasoning behind Mr. Solution’s historic undertakings. That was a very amazing event that I will never forget.
“I applaud Governor Soludo for bringing discipline, grace, intelligence, and a new viewpoint to Anambra’s governance. Under his leadership, Anambra is fulfilling its motto, “Light of the Nation.”
“I implore Governor Soludo to seek the collaboration of his opponents in the just finished elections and to be generous in his win. I promise Governor Soludo that I will always be there for him, and I look forward to Anambra and the federal government working together in the future.
“The opposition All Grand Progressives Alliance’s election victory once again shows how strong our political system is and how difficult it is to prevent any progressive and diligent leader from winning.”
According to the accounts I have received thus far, the new INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, and his team conducted what observers have termed as a credible election, and for that I am also grateful.
“In order for us to continue strengthening and deepening our electoral system, I charge the commission with upholding the standards and further improving its performance.”
Ngige Greet Soludo, NGF, and Abiodun
Soludo received congratulations from Nigeria’s Governors Forum (NGF) for winning the Anambra state gubernatorial election on Saturday.
According to a statement issued by NGF Chairman Alhaji AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and his Chief Press Secretary Rafiu Ajakaye, the governor’s popularity and his programs among Anambrarians were highlighted by the decisive victory margin.
“We are confident that this deserving victory will enable His Excellency to consolidate on his great achievements across different sectors,” the statement said.
“We also congratulate the people of Anambra and all the stakeholders on the election’s peaceful and orderly conduct, which is further evidence that Nigerians have completely accepted democracy and the rule of law as their preferred form of government.
“We applaud the security agencies and the Independent National Electoral Commission for the smooth electoral process thus far.”
Abiodun: Anambra Has Complete Faith in Soludo’s Guidance
Dapo Abiodun, the chairman of the Southern Governors’ Forum and governor of Ogun State, congratulated Soludo on his reelection, stating that the results clearly demonstrated the high level of trust that the people of Anambra State had in his leadership.
In a statement released by his Special Advisor on Media and Strategy, Kayode Akinmade, Abiodun urged Soludo to unify all political tendencies in the state for the advancement of democracy and to use the win as a means of delivering its benefits more broadly.
“The people of Anambra State expressed their confidence in His Excellency, Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo’s leadership in a clear and unambiguous manner following the election results on Saturday.
“I sincerely congratulate Prof. Charles Chukwuma Soludo, my brother and Vice Chairman of the Southern Governors Forum, and I implore him to keep motivating the people of Anambra State with initiatives and policies that would change their lives.
“He will further consolidate on the benefits of democracy under his leadership in Anambra State by uniting various political tendencies in the state.”
Ngige Assigns Soludo Security and Welfare Tasks
Senator Chris Ngige, a former Anambra State governor and former minister of labor and employment, has asked Soludo to use his reelection as an opportunity to rededicate himself to working for the people with greater enthusiasm and to secure their security and well-being.
In his congratulations, Ngige stated that Soludo’s overwhelming win in the election was akin to a vote on his administration of the state since it was placed under his control on March 17, 2022.
He said that he and a few other interested parties had publicly attested “to the excellent fiscal policy and gargantuan infrastructural and human resources development of our homeland by the governor.”
“Only God is flawless. As stated in Section 14 (2)b of the Nigerian Constitution 1999, this second recruitment/missionary gives the governor a chance to rededicate himself to working for the people with greater enthusiasm to safeguard their welfare and security of their lives and property.
“There is now a fantastic chance to make amends where mistakes were made by acts or inactions. May the good Lord lead you to bless Nigeria and the State of Anambra.
As “Cash-and-Carry Democracy” warns of 2027 danger, ADC criticizes the election.
However, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has voiced displeasure with the way the Anambra 2025 gubernatorial election was conducted, seeing it as a highly commercialized process that threatened democracy itself.
The party accused the incumbent and his party of rampant cash-for-votes in a statement released by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi. It also criticized the passivity of electoral officials and the quiet of security agents, claiming that this amounted to complicity.
The party expressed serious concerns about Nigeria’s electoral process after seeing the conduct of the just ended Anambra gubernatorial election.
According to Abdullahi, what transpired in Anambra was regretful, characterizing it as a cash-soaked spectacle that was more akin to a bazaar than an election that threatens democracy itself.
“We want to state unequivocally that this election was heavily monetized, as has been widely reported and made evident to Nigerians and the international community. The incumbent and his party were observed to have engaged in various forms and styles of cash-for-votes.”
Bundles of naira notes were exchanged in plain sight at polling places throughout the state. The Governor himself had established the groundwork for this flagrant violation of the Electoral Act far in advance of the election.
The apparent quiet and, in many cases, outright inaction of the organizations tasked with upholding electoral integrity was even more concerning.
“Electoral officials, overburdened or uninterested, failed to uphold even the most basic standards while security personnel watched as voters were intimidated and compromised.”
Nigerians have every reason to be concerned about the future of our democracy if this is how the Independent National Electoral Commission, or INEC, plans to hold the general election in 2027. This is especially true at a time when the international community is closely monitoring our country.
He declared, “On our part, the ADC remains committed to building a Nigeria where leadership is earned through integrity, inclusion, and service—not through the crude exchange of cash for votes.”
