Anambra election 2025 sees Soludo re-elected as APC disputes claims of vote-buying while Tinubu and UN observers hail a peaceful, credible process
Anambra election 2025 has ended with Governor Charles Soludo securing a decisive second term, in a contest widely praised for its peaceful conduct but shadowed by political accusations and post-election tensions.
Also read: Soludo wins Anambra election in landslide victory
The All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, reacting to the results, claimed the party recorded nearly 100,000 votes “without inducement” and rejected allegations of vote-buying. “Can the APC candidate who is not a sitting governor buy votes?” he asked.
He alleged that violence during the election primarily targeted APC supporters, citing incidents where party members’ homes were attacked and one woman’s house burnt after she reportedly defeated rivals in her polling unit.
“Those who burnt the house have not been arrested,” he said, adding that he would consult the 99,445 voters who supported him before taking further decisions.
A United Nations-accredited election observer, Jim Oko, praised the conduct of the poll, describing it as “in line with international best practices.”
Oko, the national coordinator of Nouvel Perspective International, said the election was “peacefully done, peacefully collated, peacefully announced, and peacefully accepted,” noting that it met standards comparable to those seen in major global democracies.
President Bola Tinubu congratulated Governor Soludo on his re-election, calling it “an affirmation of visionary leadership” and pledging stronger cooperation between the federal and Anambra governments.
In a statement issued on Sunday, Tinubu lauded the electorate, security agencies, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for ensuring a credible process. He also urged Soludo to be “magnanimous in victory.”
“Professor Soludo’s re-election is a testament to his visionary leadership and the progress made under his guidance,” Tinubu said, adding that Anambra was “living up to its motto as the Light of the Nation.”
He further commended new INEC chairman, Prof Joash Amupitan, urging the commission to maintain and improve its standards in future polls.
In his victory speech delivered in Awka on Sunday, Soludo hailed INEC’s performance, calling the exercise “the best election organised in Anambra so far.”
“The people have spoken, and their votes counted,” he said, praising the transparency of INEC’s real-time result uploads on the IReV portal. Soludo also thanked President Tinubu for his “commitment to a free and fair process.”
He extended a hand of reconciliation to rival candidates: “Politics in Anambra should remain a contest of ideas, not enmity. Sixteen of us were on the ballot, but in the Anambra spirit, we fight like there will be no tomorrow and then celebrate together.”
The Nigeria Governors’ Forum congratulated Soludo in a statement signed by its chairman, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara, describing his victory as “well-deserved.”
“We are confident this will enable His Excellency to consolidate on his achievements across sectors,” the Forum said, commending INEC and security agencies for ensuring a smooth electoral process.
Meanwhile, the Lagos chapter of the APC used the outcome to tease Labour Party leader Peter Obi, urging him to “rethink” his 2027 presidential ambitions.
Party spokesperson Seye Oladejo argued that the Labour Party’s poor showing in Anambra reflected a decline in its grassroots influence. “Social media popularity cannot replace consistent political organisation,” he said.
Also read: Soludo wins Anambra election in landslide victory
Oladejo maintained that APC’s performance showed “increasing public confidence” in the party’s leadership, adding, “Good governance and delivery remain the strongest tools for political success.”
David Okere is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering business, governance, public affairs, and human-interest stories with a commitment to accuracy, balance, and public interest reporting.
