The Anambra State governorship election witnessed a complex interplay of enthusiasm, controversy, and varying degrees of efficiency across its 5,720 polling units. With over 2.8 million registered voters, the exercise was keenly watched, featuring incumbent Governor Charles Soludo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) seeking re-election against strong contenders like Nicholas Ukachukwu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), George Moghalu of the Labour Party (LP), and John Chuma-Nwosu of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

A dominant concern throughout the election was the widespread allegations and condemnation of vote buying. Former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi, after casting his ballot in Agulu, Anaocha Local Government Area, described the practice as “predominantly vote buying to the scale of N20,000, N30,000, 15,000,” warning young, unemployed voters that by selling their votes, they were “selling away their future.” Governor Soludo himself acknowledged reports of voters being paid as much as N15,000 in places like Nnewi South, with even higher sums like N100,000 being offered. Similarly, Labour Party candidate George Moghalu decried vote buying, linking it to the “weaponization of poverty.” An APC official in Ogbaru LGA even alleged that APGA distributed N10,000 per voter compared to APC’s N6,000, illustrating the prevalence of such inducements. Party agents and voters in several areas, including Onitsha North and Nnewi North, confirmed demands for monetary incentives and the distribution of cash and snacks.

Compounding the challenges was a notably low voter turnout and widespread apathy observed across numerous polling stations, particularly in the Uruagu community and other parts of Nnewi North, Aguleri, Umudinkwa, Umudim, and Onitsha North LGAs. George Moghalu attributed this apathy to a “loss of confidence of the people” in the electoral process and also late arrival of materials/officials in some units. Instances were reported where voting commenced late due to the delayed arrival of electoral materials and officials, further discouraging participation. For example, at Polling Unit 012, Cooperative Centre, Uruagu Ward 1, Nnewi North LGA, only 42 out of 422 registered voters had been accredited by late morning.

Technical hitches with the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) also marred parts of the election. Voters with new Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) in Ekwulummiri, Nnewi South, reported repeated rejections by the BVAS machines. Slow BVAS response and ineffective fingerprint authentication were common, leading officials to resort to facial recognition for accreditation. In Governor Soludo’s polling unit, a BVAS malfunction even forced an abrupt end to voting. Furthermore, there were allegations of underage voting, with suspected 17-18-year-old individuals observed casting ballots with PVCs in Akwaihedi, Nnewi South, an illegal practice in Nigeria.

Despite these issues, the election also received commendations for its conduct in many areas. International observers and civil society organizations like Yiaga Africa and the International Association of World Peace Advocates lauded the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for its transparent, efficient, and peaceful operations. They praised INEC's logistical coordination, effective technology deployment, and the early arrival of materials and personnel in many polling units, noting that voting often commenced on schedule. The high Permanent Voter Card (PVC) collection rate of 98.8% prior to the election was highlighted as a sign of strong voter readiness and public confidence in INEC's leadership under Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan, SAN. Security agencies were also generally commended for maintaining a calm environment, although some early deployment issues due to funding were reported.

Key polling unit results provided insights into the election's dynamics. Incumbent Governor Charles Soludo of APGA decisively won his polling unit (PU 002, Ofiyi Square, Isuofia Ward, Aguata), securing 417 votes against APC’s Nicholas Ukachukwu who polled 4 votes. Conversely, Labour Party candidate George Moghalu lost his own polling unit (Uruagu Ward 1, Nnewi North) to Soludo, with 22 votes compared to Soludo’s 57. In a significant outcome for the Labour Party leader, Peter Obi’s polling unit (PU 019, Agulu Ward 11, Anaocha) saw APC’s Nicholas Ukachukwu defeat Moghalu with 73 votes to 57, a notable contrast to Obi's overwhelming victory in the state during the 2023 presidential election. Nicholas Ukachukwu of APC also secured a victory in his polling unit (PU 12, Ward 2, Umudiala village, Osumenyi, Nnewi South) with 108 votes against Soludo’s 4.

The election underscored the challenges inherent in Nigeria's democratic process, particularly regarding voter integrity and participation, while also showcasing efforts by INEC and security agencies to ensure a credible outcome. The state's economic profile, ranking 17th nationwide in Internally Generated Revenue and being a top commercial hub, adds another layer of significance to the leadership stakes. As results continued to trickle in, the focus remained on the final collation process, with Governor Soludo raising concerns about potential plots to “swap election results” during collation, urging vigilance from citizens and electoral bodies.