INEC presents certificates of return to Soludo, deputy after Anambra re-election victory
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially presented Certificates of Return to Governor Chukwuma Soludo and his deputy, Chief Onyekachukwu Ibezim, following their victory in the November 8, 2025 Anambra State governorship election.
The certificates were presented on Tuesday in Awka, the state capital, by Kenneth Ukeagu, the INEC National Commissioner supervising the election.
Ukeagu, while performing the presentation, said the ceremony signified the formal conclusion of the electoral process, as required under Section 72(1) of the Electoral Act 2022, which mandates INEC to issue certificates of return within 14 days to candidates duly returned by a returning officer.
“In compliance with this statutory provision, I have the honour and privilege, in my capacity as the Supervising National Electoral Commissioner of the Anambra State governorship election, to present the certificates of return to the Governor and Deputy Governor-elect,” Ukeagu said.
Governor Soludo, who arrived at the event with his wife, Nonye Soludo, and children, expressed appreciation to INEC, the electorate, and his party, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), for their confidence and support.
He pledged that his administration would accelerate development across all sectors in Anambra State, building on the progress of his first term.
“This renewed mandate is a call to serve with greater dedication. I assure Ndi Anambra that the coming years will bring deeper transformation and more inclusive growth,” Soludo said.
According to INEC’s official results, Soludo, the APGA candidate, won in all 21 local government areas of the state with 422,664 votes.
His closest rival, Nicholas Ukachukwu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), polled 99,445 votes, while Paul Chukwuma of the Young Progressives Party (YPP) came third with 37,753 votes.
Other candidates included George Moghalu (Labour Party) with 10,576 votes, John Nwosu (African Democratic Congress) with 8,208 votes, and Jude Ezenwafor (Peoples Democratic Party) with 1,401 votes.
INEC reported that out of 2,788,864 registered voters, 598,229 were accredited, with 584,054 valid votes and 11,244 rejected ballots recorded.
With the certificates now issued, Governor Soludo is set to be sworn in for his second term in office, continuing as the only sitting governor currently representing the APGA platform in Nigeria.
