Hours after a largely peaceful governorship election across Anambra State’s 21 local government areas, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has commenced the collation of results at its headquarters in Awka. The exercise began around 2:10 a.m. on Sunday, drawing INEC officials, election observers, journalists, and party stakeholders to the state capital.
![](https://thenigerialawyer.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/idrinstitute.png")
The election, which featured 16 political parties and candidates including incumbent Governor Chukwuma Soludo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), unfolded without major incidents of violence. With 2,802,790 registered voters and 5,718 polling units, turnout appeared robust in the early hours despite scattered reports of apathy and alleged irregularities. By Saturday evening, INEC had uploaded 99.09 percent of results—5,668 out of 5,720 polling units to its Result Viewing Portal (IReV), signaling a smooth transmission process.
Early figures from the portal position Soludo for a strong re-election bid, with APGA dominating in most local governments. The All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu, trails as the primary challenger, while other parties like the Labour Party (LP), African Democratic Congress (ADC), and Young Progressives Party (YPP) garnered limited support.
Governor Soludo set an emphatic tone at his polling unit, Polling Unit 002, Umuezeadigo Street, Isuofia, in Aguata Local Government Area, where he secured 417 votes, overwhelmingly defeating the APC’s Ukachukwu, who received just four votes. The Accord Party candidate managed one vote.
In a symbolic upset, the LP, led nationally by 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi, suffered a loss at Obi’s home unit, Polling Unit 019, Agulu Ward 11, Anaocha LGA. APC’s Ukachukwu triumphed with 73 votes, edging out LP’s George Moghalu with 57 votes and APGA’s 38 votes. Obi, who voted earlier in the day, urged voters against inducements, saying, “Those who sell their votes risk losing schools, hospitals, jobs, and their future. This must stop.”
Ukachukwu mirrored Soludo’s dominance at his unit, Polling Unit 12, Ward 2, Umudiala village, Osumenyi, Nnewi South LGA, polling 108 votes to Soludo’s four.
Partial results from 11 LGAs, as uploaded to IReV and announced during collation, show APGA’s strong grip. Below is a summary table of key metrics and top performers from the reported areas:
| LGA | Registered Voters | Accredited Voters | Total Valid Votes | APGA Votes | APC Votes | Next Highest (Party/Votes) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awka South | 216,611 | 38,374 | 37,518 | 27,896 | 5,038 | ADC (1,726) |
| Idemili North | 246,412 | 36,048 | 34,961 | 25,498 | 638 | LP (1,275) |
| Anaocha | 124,061 | 28,758 | 28,189 | 20,118 | 5,956 | YPP (1,223) |
| Onitsha South | 167,078 | 22,936 | 21,546 | 15,742 | 4,156 | YPP (638) |
| Onitsha North | 183,656 | 33,582 | 32,601 | 24,225 | 4,677 | YPP (2,419) |
| Oyi | 114,439 | 30,855 | 30,050 | 18,882 | 5,118 | LP (3,641) |
| Orumba North | 102,817 | 29,565 | 29,135 | 24,664 | 2,615 | YPP (1,519) |
| Orumba South | 88,701 | 24,274 | 24,001 | 19,818 | 2,828 | ADC (361) |
| Aguata | 154,687 | 43,714 | 43,068 | 35,559 | 4,125 | YPP (2,746) |
| Awka North | 84,105 | 21,783 | 21,291 | 15,895 | 3,661 | ADC (815) |
| Njikoka | 119,605 | 20,907 | N/A | 22,213 | 5,687 | ADC (236) |
| Dunukofia | N/A | 21,438 | 21,102 | 14,892 | 3,284 | ADC (232) |
Note: Figures are from preliminary uploads. Full collation may adjust totals. Minor parties like AA, AAC, APM, and others received negligible votes.
While the poll was praised for its calm, bolstered by heavy security including cordons around key sites like the Niger Bridge in Onitsha, concerns over vote-buying, delayed materials, and intimidation lingered. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arrested three suspects: Emeka Ilokasia (Njikoka LGA), Nwachukwu Loretta (Oyi LGA), and Emuka Chuwudi (Dunukofia LGA). The agency promised swift prosecution after investigation.
Anambra’s Resident Electoral Commissioner, Queen Elizabeth Agwu, dismissed vote-buying allegations during an interview on Channels Television’s News at 10. “None of our staff or observers told me they saw any area where there was vote-buying. To me, it’s a rumour,” she said, challenging accusers to provide evidence. Agwu also refuted delay reports, crediting effective logistics, BVAS functionality, and early voter turnout. She cautioned against premature judgments, promising final calculations after collation.
Governor Soludo alleged a plot by unnamed political actors to manipulate results, calling on security forces to stay vigilant. APC’s Ukachukwu decried voter inducement and intimidation of his agents, while ADC’s John Nwosu accused APGA of widespread vote-buying. Situation Room observer Dimma Nwobi confirmed isolated inducement incidents, prompting EFCC action, though minor BVAS glitches were quickly resolved.
With collation ongoing, final results are expected later Sunday, potentially confirming Soludo’s incumbency advantage in APGA’s traditional stronghold. The election featured notable female contenders, including NRM’s Ndidi Olieh and deputies Veronica Okaro (LP) and Faith Obi (ZLP), adding diversity to the race.
INEC’s Agwu praised the very good turnout, emphasizing the absence of violence and robust deployment. As Anambra’s over 2.8 million voters await the verdict.
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