By Izunna Okafor, Awka
The incumbent Governor of Anambra State and candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Prof. Chukwuma Charles Soludo, is maintaining a comfortable lead in the ongoing collation of results from the November 8 governorship election in the state.
As of Sunday morning, results officially released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) show that Governor Soludo has won in nineteen local government areas (LGAs) out of the twenty-one in the state, including Nnewi South — the home local government of his closest rival, Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu of the All Progressives Congress (APC). This, it was gathered, resulted in outburst of joy and tears in the camps of the winning and the losing parties respectively, having seen the handwriting on the wall.
From figures so far declared at the INEC State Collation Centre in Awka, Soludo secured sweeping victories across nearly all parts of the state, leaving his opponents — Ukachukwu of the APC, George Moghalu of the Labour Party (LP), and thirteen other candidates — far behind in the race.
This reporter , Izunna Okafor, gathered that the APGA candidate, Soludo (popularly known as Ọlụatụegwu) recorded clear leads in key LGAs such as Dunukofia, Njikoka, Ogbaru, Awka North, Awka South, Orumba North, Orumba South, Aguata, and Ekwusigo. He also triumphed in Nnewi North, Nnewi South, Anaocha, Idemili North, Idemili South, Onitsha North, Onitsha South, Oyi, Ayamelum, and Anambra East.
With just two LGAs — Ihiala and Anambra West — left to be announced, the results so far indicate that Soludo has already surpassed the constitutional requirement of winning the highest number of votes and securing at least 25 percent of votes in two-thirds of the state’s 21 LGAs.
Soludo’s apparent victory in his opponent’s stronghold, Nnewi South, further further bears witness to his wide acceptability across different parts of the state. The development, it was gathered, reflects voter confidence in his leadership and satisfaction with his ongoing infrastructural and governance reforms under the “Solution Government” in the state, where he assumed office with his vibrant Deputy, Dr. Onyekachukwu Ibezim in March 17, 2022.
Saturday’s election, according to reports, was largely peaceful across the state, even though there were isolated concerns about vote-buying and lack of availability of results sheets in some areas when the the election started. Security personnel were visibly deployed across all polling units, ensuring orderliness and credible conduct of the exercise.
There was also a high voter turnout, including in Ebenator Nnewi South and other places where the people shut down their markets and business activities to go cast their votes.
INEC, as at the time of this publication, was finalizing the collation process at its Headquarters in Awka, after which the Commission is expected to officially declare Prof. Soludo winner for a second and final term in office.
Prof. Soludo, who was first elected governor in 2021, will complete his first term in March 2026. His re-election, if officially confirmed by INEC, will consolidate his administration’s developmental strides and reforms aimed at transforming Anambra into a model subnational economy in Nigeria.
Below are results for the top four contenders by number of votes garnered:
APGA: 389,789 – Chukwuma Soludo
APC: 91,592 – Nicholas Ukachukwu
LP: 10,366 – George Moghalu
PDP: 1,230 – Jude Ezenwafor
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Results by local governments:
1.
Dunukofia LGA
APC: 3,284
APGA: 14,892
LP: 71
PDP: 16
2.
Awka North LGA
APC: 3,661
APGA: 15,895
LP: 299
PDP: 203
3.
Njikoka LGA
APC: 5,687
APGA: 22,213
LP: 311
PDP: 47
4.
Nnewi South LGA
APC: 9,281
APGA: 17,286
LP: 73
PDP: 12
5.
Nnewi North LGA
APC: 5,441
APGA: 20,320
LP: 1,140
PDP: 45
6.
Ayamelum LGA
APC: 7,478
APGA: 13,340
LP: 117
PDP: 13
7.
Anambra East LGA
APC: 3,108
APGA: 14,665
LP: 304
PDP: 207
8.
Ogbaru LGA
APC: 3,768
APGA: 22,803
LP: 347
PDP: 30
9.
Oyi LGA
APC: 5,118
APGA: 18,882
LP: 3,641
PDP: 16
10.
Orumba North LGA
APC: 2,615
APGA: 24,664
LP: 131
PDP: 17
11.
Orumba South LGA
APC: 2,828
APGA: 19,818
LP: 16
PDP: 18
12.
Aguata LGA
APC: 4,125
APGA: 35,559
LP: 124
PDP: 82
13.
Onitsha North LGA
APC: 4,677
APGA: 24,225
LP: 500
PDP: 111
14.
Onitsha South LGA
APC: 4,156
APGA: 15,742
LP: 615
PDP: 73
15.
Anaocha LGA
APC: 5,956
APGA: 20,118
LP: 483
PDP: 42
16.
Awka South LGA
APC: 5,038
APGA: 27,896
LP: 520
PDP: 63
17.
Idemili South LGA
APC: 6,015
APGA: 17,224
LP: 276
PDP: 40
18.
Ekwusigo LGA
APC: 2,973
APGA: 18,749
LP: 194
PDP: 70
19.
Idemili North LGA
APC: 6,383
APGA: 25,498
LP: 1,275
PDP: 125
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APGA: 389,789 – Chukwuma Soludo
APC: 91,592 – Nicholas Ukachukwu
LP: 10,366 – George Moghalu
PDP: 1,230 – Jude Ezenwafor
