Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State formally received his Certificate of Return from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Tuesday, November 8, 2025, confirming his decisive victory in the gubernatorial election. This presentation adhered to Section 72(1) of the Electoral Act, 2022, which mandates the issuance of such a certificate within 14 days of an election. Soludo, who ran under the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), secured a total of 422,664 votes, leading to his re-election for a second term and sweeping all 21 local government areas in the state.

Following Soludo’s victory, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, representing Abia North, publicly predicted and later confirmed that Governor Soludo would soon defect to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Speaking with journalists at the National Assembly in Abuja, Kalu characterized Soludo as a “natural progressive” whose ideals align seamlessly with those of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and other prominent APC figures. Senator Kalu firmly stated, “Soludo has no alternative but to join us in the APC,” adding that this political alignment would solidify once ongoing legal issues are fully resolved. He further asserted, “In fact, it is confirmed that he will join APC. He has no other alternative.”

Senator Kalu underscored that numerous governors and politicians across Nigeria are increasingly gravitating towards the APC, drawn by what he described as President Tinubu’s visionary and inclusive leadership. He explicitly denied any coercion, emphasizing that individuals are joining the party voluntarily because they recognize the path of progress. Kalu, a pivotal figure within the APC since its inception, reiterated his commitment to bolstering the party’s influence in the South East ahead of the 2027 general elections and pledged unwavering support for his younger brother’s political aspirations within the APC platform.

Meanwhile, the Anambra State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) faced significant internal upheaval, leading to the suspension of its governorship candidate, Mr. Jude Ezenwafor. This drastic measure was taken after Ezenwafor was observed congratulating Governor Soludo on his victory, while the party executive committee was simultaneously meeting to ratify his suspension. The state chairman, Dr. Chidi Chidebe, accused Ezenwafor of going “incommunicado” immediately after securing the party’s ticket, refusing to hold meetings or rallies, and ultimately “selling out.” Ezenwafor’s electoral performance was deemed abysmal, as he secured only one vote in his own ward, Nnobi Ward 3, in Idemili South Local Government Area, marking the worst result for PDP in any ward across the state. The party has suspended him for one month, referred him for further disciplinary actions, and advised the National Working Committee to deny him or his collaborators any access or recognition at the National Secretariat.

Election observers from the Public and Private Development Centre (PPDC) and the Catch Them Young Community Initiative (CATYCOI) jointly released a statement describing the 2025 Anambra governorship election as “largely peaceful.” They commended INEC and security agencies for maintaining order throughout the process, noting the early arrival of election officials, timely commencement of accreditation, and the effective performance of BVAS devices in many polling units. However, the groups expressed serious concern over two persistent challenges: low voter turnout and widespread incidents of vote buying, which they warned continue to undermine electoral integrity and public trust in Nigeria’s democratic participation.

Contrasting with the observers’ concern about low voter turnout, Governor Soludo, upon receiving his Certificate of Return, celebrated an “unprecedented turnout” of “almost 600,000 people.” He highlighted that it was the first time in Anambra State’s history that a candidate achieved 73% of the total votes cast, winning 98% of all wards and 99% of all polling units, with several local governments recording no loss in any polling unit. Despite the generally peaceful atmosphere, the election was tragically marred by the killing of Hon. Richard Ibe, an APGA Councillor representing Owerre-Ezukala Ward One, shortly after he cast his vote on November 8, 2025. APGA’s National Publicity Secretary, Mazi Opara, condemned the murder as the sole major incident detracting from their victory, calling for a thorough police investigation. Similarly, the Action Alliance (AA) governorship candidate, Ozo Japhet Nweke, bemoaned Ibe’s cruel death and urged security operatives to bring the perpetrators to justice.

Ozo Japhet Nweke, the AA candidate, notably declared his intention not to file a petition against Soludo’s victory, stating that the election process was “remarkably credible, free and fair” in his personal assessment, despite reports of vote buying by observers. Nweke, while congratulating Soludo, called for unity among all political actors to build a thriving and prosperous Anambra, and advised the governor to prioritize security and job creation in his second term agenda. Governor Soludo, in his remarks, expressed profound gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for his firm commitment to multi-democracy and ensuring that the votes of the people counted. He also commended INEC and its new Chairman, Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan, for an “excellent” and “loud” first outing, which he believed instilled confidence in Nigeria’s electoral system. Soludo pledged to work even harder in his second term to make Anambra shine brighter and become a livable and prosperous homeland.

Addressing broader national politics, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu reaffirmed his support for the Tinubu administration’s ongoing reforms, acknowledging the current economic hardship faced by Nigerians but urging patience as macroeconomic indicators show improvement. He confidently predicted that the “2027 election will be Tinubu versus Tinubu,” citing a lack of cohesive opposition. Kalu also weighed in on US President Donald Trump’s recent comments about violence in Nigeria, asserting that Trump’s remarks on religious killings were not misplaced, as both Christians and Muslims continue to suffer from extremist attacks. He revealed discussions with two former US presidents and over 60 lawmakers in Washington, who expressed willingness to support Nigeria’s counter-terrorism efforts, potentially influencing Nigerian Air Force operations. However, Kalu also criticized the US and its allies for contributing to regional instability and arms proliferation following the fall of leaders like Muammar Gaddafi and Saddam Hussein, which he believes worsened Africa’s security challenges.

Despite the prevailing economic and security pressures, Senator Kalu maintained an optimistic outlook, asserting that Nigeria is unequivocally on a path to recovery. He expressed strong confidence that President Tinubu would ultimately overcome these formidable challenges, a sentiment echoed by Governor Soludo regarding his vision for Anambra State’s transformation.