The Anambra State governorship election, held on Saturday, November 8, 2025, was characterized by a complex interplay of political maneuvering, widespread allegations of vote buying, robust security deployment, and varied voter experiences. Incumbent Governor Chukwuma Soludo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), seeking re-election, expressed strong confidence in his victory, even as he accused a rival party of plotting to manipulate results during collation by swapping fake results. Soludo, after casting his vote at polling unit 002, Umuezeadigo Street, Isuofia, confidently stated that APGA would win all 21 local governments, relying on the vigilance of the people and the integrity of the “one man, one vote” system, despite acknowledging minor technical issues with BVAS machines and reports of vote buying. He reiterated his faith in the fairness of the electoral process and commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for its conduct.

However, the election was significantly marred by pervasive allegations of financial inducement across numerous polling units. Multiple sources, including former Anambra governor and 2023 Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate Peter Obi, actress Chioma Ifemeludike (an African Action Congress candidate), pan-African organization ElectHER, and the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID), reported widespread vote buying. Reports indicated votes were being traded for amounts ranging from N5,000 to N30,000. Peter Obi, speaking after voting at his unit, lamented that “bad governance is fuelling vote buying and selling,” stressing that such acts compromised the future by selling away essential services like education, healthcare, and job opportunities. ElectHER CEO Ibijoke Faborode noted the “audacity and boldness of vote trading,” with cash openly displayed by party agents. Senator Victor Umeh, representing Anambra Central zone, called for the immediate arrest and prosecution of vote buyers, deeming them “enemies of the state.” The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) confirmed several arrests for vote buying, with offenders facing fines of up to N500,000 or 12 months imprisonment under sections 121 and 127 of the Electoral Act 2022. CJID further advocated for an independent Electoral Offences Commission to ensure timely and impartial accountability.

Unexpected results emerged from key polling units, challenging traditional party strongholds and creating an unexpectedly competitive race. Peter Obi, despite winning over 95% of the votes in Anambra during the 2023 presidential election, lost his polling unit (019, Agulu Ward 11, Anaocha LGA) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate Nicholas Ukachukwu, who secured 73 votes against Labour Party’s George Moghalu’s 57 and APGA’s 38. Similarly, APC’s Ukachukwu won convincingly in his own polling unit at Umudiala Village, Osumenyi, Nnewi South LGA, polling 108 votes while incumbent Governor Soludo received only four. Labour Party’s governorship candidate, George Moghalu, also lost his polling unit in Uruagu Ward 1, Nnewi North LGA, where Charles Soludo of APGA garnered 57 votes to Moghalu’s 22 and Ukachukwu’s five. These outcomes were surprising given Obi’s active campaigning for the Labour Party and traditional expectations.

Security arrangements were extensive and largely praised for maintaining peace in the state. A coordinated security strategy, led by Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun and supervised by Deputy Inspector-General (DIG) Benjamin Okolo, saw heavy deployment of police personnel, squad trucks, Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs), and Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicles (MRAPVs) across all 21 local government areas and collation centers. Aerial surveillance by the Police Air Wing, led by Commissioner of Police (CP) Martins Nwogo, also secured the state’s airspace. DIG Okolo described the election as “largely peaceful and orderly,” commending the professionalism of officers and the effectiveness of security measures in neutralizing identified flashpoints such as Onitsha, Ogbaru, Nnewi North and South, Agulu, and Aguata LGAs. Pre-election engagements, including stakeholder meetings and a peace accord signed by political parties, further contributed to a calm environment, ensuring voters could exercise their franchise without intimidation or disruption.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), under the leadership of its Chairman, Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan, SAN, received commendations from international observers and civil society organizations for its logistical preparedness and improved performance. Early poll openings, with materials and officials arriving as early as 7:34 a.m. in some areas, were noted by Yiaga Africa as a “positive sign of transparent elections.” The Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) generally functioned smoothly, enabling faster accreditation, though some initial glitches were reported. INEC also achieved a record 98.8% Permanent Voter Card (PVC) collection rate (2,769,137 collected out of 2,802,790 registered voters), reflecting enhanced voter readiness. However, some challenges persisted, including late starts in certain polling units and the deployment of only one BVAS machine for units with a high number of registered voters, such as Soludo’s polling unit with 933 voters, leading to long queues and delays. Observers urged INEC to address such logistical imbalances in future elections.

Voter turnout presented a mixed picture. While observers noted impressive participation from women and the elderly in some areas, concerns about overall voter apathy were raised, echoing trends from previous elections where less than 10% of registered voters decided the outcome. Senator Dr. Tony Nwoye expressed disappointment with the turnout, indicating potential apathy. A poignant incident highlighted the human element of electoral challenges: 96-year-old Elizabeth Onike was denied the right to vote at Peter Obi’s polling unit after her voter’s card was deemed invalid by INEC officials, despite her insistence on having used it for years. As voting concluded across the state by Saturday afternoon, INEC officials began moving materials to ward and local government collation centers, with security operatives mobilized to ensure the safe transit of results sheets and sensitive materials. The commission urged political parties and agents to maintain calm for a transparent outcome.

The election, with 16 candidates in the race, ultimately shaped up as a two-horse contest between Governor Soludo (APGA) and Nicholas Ukachukwu (APC), despite others like Dr. George Moghalu (LP) and Ms. Chioma Ifemeludike (AAC) also participating. Factors such as party popularity (APGA’s long-standing grassroots presence versus APC’s growing elite support and federal influence), the incumbency factor, the state’s unwritten zoning arrangement favoring the Southern senatorial zone (from which both Soludo and Ukachukwu hail), and religious politics (Soludo’s Catholic background with an Anglican deputy, contrasting with Ukachukwu’s Pentecostal affiliation) were identified as crucial determinants of success. Yiaga Africa emphasized that the efficiency of logistics, integrity in electoral procedures, and impartiality of security agencies would be critical benchmarks for the election’s credibility, serving as a vital test for Nigeria’s democratic credentials ahead of the 2027 general elections.