𝐀𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐛𝐫𝐚 𝐃𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐬: 𝐒𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐝𝐨 𝐢𝐧 𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐲 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐚𝐬 𝐈𝐍𝐄𝐂 𝐮𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐚𝐝𝐬 𝟗𝟗% 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐬

The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) candidate, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, has taken an early lead in the Anambra State governorship election as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) confirmed uploading over 99 per cent of results on its viewing portal.

As of 10pm on Saturday, results from across the state showed Soludo dominating in his strongholds—Aguata, Njikoka, Onitsha North, and several other LGAs—leaving the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Nicholas Ukachukwu, trailing behind.

Despite early arrival of election materials, turnout remained low, though INEC recorded 2,802,790 registered voters across 5,718 polling units. Preliminary figures indicate a two-horse race between APGA and APC.

In his polling unit at Isuofia, Soludo secured 417 votes to defeat his closest rival, Ukachukwu, who managed four. Ukachukwu, however, won his own unit in Nnewi South with 108 votes, while APGA got four.

Across the state, APGA maintained significant leads — in Ekwusigo LGA, Soludo’s party polled 1,548 votes against APC’s 599; in Njikoka, APGA recorded 3,452 to APC’s 666; and in Orumba South, the margin widened as APGA polled over 1,700 votes compared to APC’s 284.

Both Soludo and his rivals traded accusations of vote-buying. Peter Obi, Labour Party leader, condemned the “rampant” monetisation of the poll, describing it as a threat to democracy. The EFCC later confirmed arresting three party agents for alleged vote-buying in Njikoka, Oyi, and Dunukofia LGAs.

Governor Soludo expressed confidence of victory, saying reports showed “a peaceful and smooth” exercise across most LGAs. However, violence marred proceedings in Orumba South where gunmen killed a councillor attempting to vote, injuring a corps member and an election observer.

INEC is expected to announce official results after completing collation from all 21 LGAs.