President Bola Tinubu has congratulated Anambra State Governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, on his re-election, describing the outcome of Saturday’s governorship poll as “an affirmation of visionary leadership and public confidence in continuity.”
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Sunday declared Soludo winner of the off-cycle election after he swept all 21 local government areas in the state. The returning officer announced that Soludo, candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), secured a decisive victory over his closest rivals from the All Progressives Congress (APC), Labour Party (LP), and the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
In a statement released from the State House, President Tinubu commended the governor’s performance over the past four years, saying, “Professor Soludo’s re-election is a testament to his visionary leadership and the significant progress the state has made under his guidance.”
The President also praised voters, security agencies, and the electoral body for conducting what he called a “peaceful and credible election,” urging the Anambra leader to be magnanimous in victory.
“Governor Soludo has shown that knowledge, accountability and prudence can drive transformation. I assure him of my continued support and look forward to stronger collaboration between Anambra and the Federal Government,” Tinubu said.
He further applauded the new INEC chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, for “raising the bar of electoral transparency,” and encouraged the commission to “maintain and improve these standards in future elections.”
However, the congratulatory tone from the Presidency contrasted sharply with reactions from opposition candidates who have rejected the poll results, citing widespread vote-buying and alleged underage voting.
Labour Party candidate, Obiora Moghalu, in a Sunday statement, faulted the process, describing it as “a charade marred by financial inducement and systemic manipulation.” He claimed that “what happened in Anambra was not a free and fair election but a well-orchestrated scheme to retain APGA in power.”
Similarly, the ADC said the exercise reflected “a dangerous precedent for 2027,” warning that unchecked vote-buying could “erode public trust in Nigeria’s democracy.”
Despite the criticism, several observers including civil society groups commended INEC for what they called “notable improvement” in logistics and electronic transmission of results.
Political analysts noted that Soludo’s re-election extends APGA’s dominance in Anambra politics, making him the third governor in the state’s history—after Peter Obi and Willie Obiano—to secure a second term. His tenure is expected to run until March 2026.
Governor Soludo, who has since acknowledged Tinubu’s message, thanked the President for his words of support, while urging aggrieved opponents to join hands with him “to continue building the Anambra of our dreams.”
“This victory belongs to the people,” Soludo said. “Our state has once again shown that democracy can thrive in the South-East through peaceful participation and progressive governance.”
The re-election also signals continuity for Soludo’s flagship “Solution Agenda,” which focuses on infrastructure renewal, education, and youth empowerment.
