By Christian ABURIME

The winner of the Anambra State governorship election, Professor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, has extended a hand of fellowship to the 15 other candidates who contested against him, demonstrating a remarkable display of unity and inclusiveness.

Soludo, in his first public address after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officially declared him winner,praised the democratic process and the high voter turnout that characterized the election.

He thanked the people of Anambra for placing their trust in his leadership, stating, “This victory is a collective achievement that reflects the aspirations of our citizens.

I am profoundly grateful for the support received from every corner of Anambra State.”Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo remarked that this marks the third time a governor has been re-elected in Anambra State, highlighting that his administration received support from 98 percent of the wards.

He expressed enthusiasm about the future, stating, “You have not seen anything yet. With this trust, in partnership with Anambra people, we will do more.”

He looked ahead to the next four years, affirming, “We are turning on to gear four, beginning from March 2026,” and expressed his gratitude to the people of Anambra for renewing his mandate.

“Thank you for giving us the opportunity to serve you for another four years,” he added.

Governor Soludo also acknowledged President Tinubu, emphasizing the importance of letting the votes count and recognizing the voices of the people: “The people spoke very loudly.”

He expressed his appreciation to INEC for their forthrightness and noted that the improvements seen in the August bye-election in Anambra may indicate better days ahead.”It has been a free, fair, and transparent election,” he stated.

In a gesture of goodwill, he extended his hand of fellowship to his 15 opponents, conveying, “APGA is still magnanimous in victory.”

He concluded by thanking the security forces for their support throughout the electoral process. The Governor equally thanked the security agencies for a good job done.

Looking ahead, Governor Soludo reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to addressing the challenges facing the state, including improving infrastructure, enhancing security, and creating economic opportunities for all citizens.

“The journey begins now, and I am dedicated to ensuring that every resident of Anambra feels the positive impact of our governance,” he stated.

As celebrations erupted among his supporters, Governor Soludo’s call for unity was seen as a pivotal moment in promoting political diplomacy and stability in the state.

The governor’s gesture not only aims to heal any divisions that may have arisen during the campaign but also sets a tone for cooperative governance as Anambra moves forward together.

• Governor Chukwuma Soludo

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) this morning declared Governor Chukwuma Soludo as the winner of the November 8 governorship election in Anambra State.

The incumbent governor, who contested on the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) polled 422,664 votes to emerge the winner of the election, with his closest rival, Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) scoring 99,445 votes to come second.

Returning Officer and Vice Chancellor of the University of Benin, Prof. Edogah Omoregie, made the declaration at the commission’s headquarters in Awka on Sunday.

Paul Chukwuma, the candidate of the Young Progressives Party (YPP) secured 37,753 votes.

While the Labour Party candidate, George Moghalu scored 10,576 votes, John Nwosu, the candidate of the coalition-backed African Democratic Congress (ADC) polled 8,208 votes.

Some voters in Obosi, Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State, have expressed dissatisfaction over what they described as “poor consideration” after allegedly being offered small amounts of money to vote.

A voter who spoke off-camera to the Anambra Broadcasting Cooperation, ABS, expressed anger over the situation.

She stated that as at 9:00 am, no one was at the Central School, Obosi, where the voting took place.

According to her, an announcement was later made urging residents to come out and cast their votes.

She said many people responded and turned out to exercise their civic duty, only to be given N1,000 afterward.

She described the amount as “too small,” considering the stress they went through to participate in the election.