The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Sunday declared Governor Chukwuma Soludo winner of the November 8 governorship election in Anambra State.

The Returning Officer, Prof. Edogah Omoregie, who is also the Vice Chancellor of the University of Benin, made the announcement at INEC’s headquarters in Awka.

Soludo, who contested under the banner of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), secured 422,664 votes to emerge victorious. His closest rival, Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), came second with 99,445 votes, while Paul Chukwuma of the Young Progressives Party (YPP) garnered 37,753 votes.

Other candidates included George Moghalu of the Labour Party, who polled 10,576 votes, and John Nwosu of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), who received 8,208 votes.

The outcome surprised few observers, as Soludo’s win reflected not only his political dominance but also the deep divisions within the opposition.

Labour Party in Disarray

Once buoyed by the energy of the 2023 general elections, the Labour Party entered the Anambra race fractured and weakened. Rival factions loyal to different national chairmen produced parallel candidates, each claiming legitimacy.

The dispute created confusion among supporters and discouraged voters. By the time the courts intervened, valuable campaign time and resources had already been wasted on legal battles rather than grassroots mobilization.

In some local government areas, supporters expressed uncertainty about the party’s true flag bearer.

“We were ready to vote Labour, but no one even came here to campaign,” said a resident of Nnewi South. “They were busy fighting themselves while Soludo was working.”

PDP’s Leadership Crisis and Defections

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has also continued to suffer from internal strife and defections following the 2023 general elections.

Ahead of the Anambra poll, the party struggled to attract aspirants willing to purchase nomination forms due to persistent leadership disputes. The sale of forms, initially slated for February 24 to March 5, saw a poor response, forcing the party to settle for Chief Jude Ezenwafor, an Abuja-based real estate developer, as its sole candidate.

Ezenwafor was eventually endorsed by 853 delegates from the state’s 21 local government areas, being the only aspirant to purchase the party’s ₦40 million nomination form.

The crisis further weakened PDP’s structure and demoralized its supporters across the state.

Vote Buying Allegations

The election was not without controversy. Reports emerged of widespread vote buying across several polling units despite repeated warnings from INEC and security agencies.

Party agents were allegedly seen offering voters between ₦20,000 and ₦30,000 to sway their choices. Some voters in Awka South claimed APGA distributed ₦5,000, while APC offered up to ₦10,000.

Labour Party candidate George Moghalu blamed his defeat on the rampant vote buying, accusing APGA agents of being the main perpetrators.

“I couldn’t afford to pay what others were offering,” Moghalu said during a televised interview. “Many of our people succumbed because of poverty. Some were even caught on camera buying votes, including a commissioner in my constituency.”

Soludo’s Incumbency Advantage

While the opposition was distracted by internal battles, Soludo leveraged his incumbency and record of performance to his advantage. His campaign focused on infrastructure projects, education reforms, and economic programs that resonated with voters.

APGA’s strong grassroots presence, especially in rural communities, further bolstered his position. On election day, the party maintained a commanding presence at polling units statewide, unlike the fragmented representation of the PDP and LP.

The result was decisive—APGA swept all 21 local government areas, cementing Soludo’s hold on power.

Analysts Warn Opposition Ahead of 2027

Political analysts have described the 2025 Anambra governorship election as a wake-up call for Nigeria’s opposition parties.

A public affairs analyst from Peaceland University, Nduka Odo, said the poll once again revealed the weakness of opposition politics in the country.

“The result clearly shows the disunity among the opposition,” Odo noted. “Despite reports of vote buying, APGA still dominated because of its strong structure and unity since the Peter Obi era.”

He added that unless the opposition forms a united front, history may repeat itself in the 2027 elections.

“If the opposition continues to operate in isolation, the ruling parties will keep winning. Just as the merger that formed APC changed the political balance years ago, today’s opposition needs similar cooperation if it wants to make an impact,” he warned.