By Chucks Emeka
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has formally concluded the 2025 Anambra State governorship election with the presentation of Certificates of Return to the declared winners.
The National Commissioner supervising the election, Chief Kenneth Ikeagu, on Tuesday, presented the certificates to the incumbent governor and candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, and his deputy, Dr. Onyekachukwu Ibezim, at the commission’s state headquarters in Awka.
According to the official results announced by the Returning Officer, Prof. Edoba Omoregie, who is also the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Benin, Soludo secured a commanding victory with 422,664 votes out of the 598,229 accredited voters.
He was followed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu, who garnered 99,445 votes. The Young Progressives Party (YPP) candidate, Sir Paul Chukwuma, came third with 37,753 votes.
Other contenders included the Labour Party’s (LP) Chief George Muoghalu, who finished fourth with 10,576 votes, and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate, Mr. John Chuma Nwosu, who polled 8,204 votes to place fifth.
While presenting the certificates, Chief Ikeagu emphasized the commission’s adherence to the provisions of the Electoral Act. He said, “Section 72 (1) of the Electoral Act 2022 mandates the Independent National Electoral Commission to issue a certificate of return within 14 days to every candidate who has been duly returned by the returning officer.”
“In compliance with this statutory provision, I have the honour and privilege, in my capacity as the Supervising National Electoral Commissioner for the Anambra governorship election, to present the Certificates of Return to the Governor and Deputy Governor-elect, who emerged victorious in the just-concluded election,” he added.
The event marked the official conclusion of the 2025 Anambra governorship election, reaffirming Soludo’s mandate to lead the state for another term.
