Professor Charles Soludo, the incumbent Governor of Anambra State and candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), has been officially declared re-elected for a second term following the governorship election held on Saturday, November 8.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Returning Officer, Professor Edoba Omoregie, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Benin, announced Soludo as the winner on Sunday morning at the state collation centre in Awka. Soludo secured a commanding victory with 422,664 votes. His closest challenger, Nicholas Ukachukwu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), polled 99,445 votes, while George Moghalu of the Labour Party (LP) came third with 10,576 votes. John Chuma-Nwosu of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) claimed fourth position with 8,208 votes. Notably, Soludo won in all 21 local government areas (LGAs) of the state, thereby satisfying the constitutional requirement of securing the highest number of votes and at least 25% of votes in no fewer than two-thirds (14) of the state’s LGAs. This feat marks the second time an individual has won in all 21 LGAs in Anambra State’s governorship election, with the first being Willie Obiano in 2017.

A total of 2,788,864 voters registered for the election, with 598,229 accredited. Out of 595,298 total votes cast, 584,054 were valid, and 11,244 were voided. The preliminary voter turnout was estimated by YIAGA Africa to be between 20.28% and 22.92%, a figure consistent with historical patterns in the state, although acknowledged as relatively low.

Despite challenges, both domestic and international observer groups largely commended the election's conduct, describing it as transparent, orderly, and peaceful. INEC’s Chief Press Secretary, Dayo Oketola, reported smooth operations, efficient deployment of materials and technology, and early arrival of officials in many locations. Ambassador Emmanuel Nkweke of the International Association of World Peace Advocates praised INEC's preparedness, while Cynthia Mbamalu of Yiaga Africa applauded early arrival of materials and personnel, calling it a positive sign of transparent elections. Hon. Dominic Okafor and Shedrack Azubuike also lauded the process, and Jake Epelle of TAF Africa noted the calm security atmosphere. INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan, reaffirmed the Commission's commitment to credible and inclusive elections, highlighting a record 98.8% Permanent Voter Card (PVC) collection rate.

However, the election was marred by several issues. Widespread vote-buying was a significant concern, with various candidates, including Soludo, Ukachukwu, Moghalu, and Peter Obi, alleging its prevalence. Reports indicated payments ranging from ₦2,000 to ₦30,000, with practices like