With over 99 per cent of the results of the Anambra State off season governorship election uploaded by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) at press time last night, Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo appeared to be cruising to a comfortable return to office.
Results from 5,678 polling booths, representing 99.27 per cent of the 5,720 across the states, were public knowledge by 11.04pm yesterday.
The results pointed to a landslide victory for the All Progressives Grand Alliance (AGPA) flag bearer.
Trailing Soludo was Nicholas Ukachukwu of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
But it turned out to be a poor outing for George Moghalu of Labour Party (LP), Mr. John Nwosu of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the remaining candidates in the election.
Also on the ballot yesterday were Sir Paul Chukwuma of the Young Progressives Party (YPP); Oti Echezona of Allied People’s Movement (APM); Chief Jeff Nweke of Action Alliance (AA); Charles Onyeze of Accord; Geoffrey Onyejegbu of New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP); Jude Ezenwafor of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP); Chukwududem Nweke of Action Peoples Party (APP); Jerry Okeke of Boot Party (BP); Martin Ugwoji of Zenith Labour Party (ZLP); and Vincent Chukwurah of Social Democratic Party (SDP).
The two female candidates were Ms. Chioma Ifemeludike of AAC and Ndidi Olieh of National Rescue Movement (NRM).
Voters’ turnout was generally low, but the election was peaceful.
Many of the candidates, including Soludo and election monitors, alleged vote buying.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) confirmed last night that its operatives arrested three suspects for alleged vote buying during the election.
The early uploading of the results suggests an improvement in INEC’s deployment of technology in the collation and transmission of election results.
Governor Soludo won his Polling Unit 002, Umuezeadigo Street, Isuofia, Aguata Local Government Area with 417 votes, leaving only four votes for Ukachukwu and none for the rest.
Ukachukwu himself won in his Umudiala village polling unit in Osumenyi, Nnewi South Local Government Area with 108 votes while Soludo got four.
The biggest shock is the apparent collapse of electoral support for the Labour Party (LP) and its presidential candidate in 2023, Mr. Peter Obi.
Obi is from the state which, along with the other South East states, was his stronghold in the 2023 election.
In that election, he got 584,372 or 95.30 per cent of the total votes in the state.
But it was a different ball game yesterday for him, his candidate George Moghalu and the LP. The votes return was nothing to write home about.
Obi even lost his polling unit 019, Agulu Ward 11, Anaocha Local Government Area to the APC who got 73 votes as against the 57 for Moghalu.
He alleged yesterday after casting his vote that there was widespread buying of votes.
He described the practice as “predominantly vote buying to the scale of 20,000, 30,000, 15,000.”
He warned that for young unemployed voters, accepting such offers undermines their future.
A similar allegation was made by Soludo, who expressed concern over reports of massive vote buying in Nnewi South.
“The only concern we have received is in one or two places in Nnewi South where we understand that there has been massive vote buying. Some voters are being paid as much as N15,000,” he told reporters after voting.
But he was confident of winning.
Moghalu said he too had received reports of vote buying.
“The situation is scandalous and very embarrassing. The issue of vote-buying is no more a speculation. It happened very aggressively in the last by-election.
“This time around, I’ve been receiving reports of the same thing happening,” he told reporters at his residence in Nnewi North LGA.
He added that he expects security agencies to clamp down on those involved.
“With the quantity of security personnel that has been brought into Anambra state for the purposes of this election, I expect that vote-buyers by now should have been caught and stopped,” he said.
He described the trend as “most unfortunate”, and warned that the crime undermines the integrity of the electoral process.
“The worst form of corruption is electoral corruption. Because by electoral corruption, you put in office people who are not credible, people who are not qualified, people who should not hold responsible offices. At the end of the day, it is the people that suffer,” he added.
Moghalu said he remained optimistic on the outcome of the election, as he had campaigned extensively and presented his manifesto to the electorate.
“I’m very optimistic. I’ve done everything I should do according to the rules. I sleep peacefully. I watch everything play out.
“One of the things I present to the people is my experience, both in the public and private sectors. And I always ask people to verify who I am.
“Power belongs to God and He gives to whom He pleases. What we are doing is making ourselves available for the will of God to prevail,” he said.
Ukachukwu of the APC also decried the development, which he called a threat to democracy.
“If there’s no seller, there cannot be a buyer,” he said.
Continuing, he said: “Some people have chosen to sell their conscience, which is even worse than those buying votes.
“When you give up your right for money, you lose your voice as a citizen. You can’t cry later; society must be blamed for encouraging this.”
Ukachukwu also alleged that one of his agents was assaulted during the election exercise.
“There have been incidents where people are being beaten up. It’s a form of bullying, and though it may seem right to some today, power changes hands. God gives power to whoever He chooses,” he said.
Ekwunife, APGA Chairman trade words over disruption of voting in Anambra community
Ukachukwu’s running mate, Senator Uche Ekwunife, accused the ruling All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) of masterminding the tension that erupted in Nri, Anaocha Local Government Area during the election.
Ekwunife said that the ‘unprovoked tension’ at Ward 1, Polling Units 001, 002 and 003 was caused by some thugs allegedly hired by APGA with intention to disrupt the voting process in her voting centre.
She, however, commended the timely intervention of Nri youths and the professionalism of the security operatives on the ground in ensuring that the will of the people prevailed.
Ekwunife said that the swift action restored calm and allowed voting to resume after a brief suspension of the process.
She also alleged widespread vote buying during the election period across several polling units in the area, saying that this signified premature level of some politicians vying to lead the people.
“Why the use of political inducement to sway voters to one side? If you are sure of serving the basic needs of the people, the results will speak for itself.
“Representatives of some major political parties were seen openly giving money to voters in exchange for their vote support. This is an eyesore.
“There is an urgent need for my colleagues and the relevant authorities to take more drastic action against vote buying in Nigeria.
“If this menace is not checked, it will become almost impossible for competent and capable individuals to emerge as leaders and serve their people effectively,” she said.
Ekwunife’s claims were, however, countered by the APGA chairman in Anaocha Local Government Area, Chief Anthony Ugorji.
Ugorji said that APGA did not send any group or individuals to disrupt election process in the area.
He said that he was not an eye witness of the disruption but admitted that a report was sent to him.
He, however, said that the situation was brought under control for the process to continue, adding that everything eventually ended on a smooth note.
Observers lament vote buying, low turnout
Some International and local observers drew attention to reports of vote buying and low voter turnout during the election.
Reports from Yiaga Africa, European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EU-SDGN) II and other partner organisations indicated that voter turnout was low in most polling units across the 21 local government areas of the state.
Speaking to newsmen in Awka, the Executive Director of Yiaga Africa, Mr Samson Itodo, identified vote buying and low turnout as recurring issues observed in the thematic areas of the election.
Also, Ms Asabe Ndahi of the Kukah Centre decried logistical challenges, including late arrival of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security officials in high-risk areas such as Nkwelle-Ezunaka, Ihiala, Ogbaru, and Nnewi South.
She added that incidents of vote buying and voter intimidation were recorded in several local government areas.
The Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD-West Africa) said the election was marred by vote buying and apathy.
Prof. Ernest Aniche, speaking for the CDD, said the election raised concerns about voter apathy, low electoral competitiveness and the fragility of key electoral institutions blaming the apathy on public distrust in INEC post-2023, fears of violence or manipulation and intra-party divisions.
CDD-EAC said that 72.2 per cent of polling units opened on time, with officials present before 8:30 am, 19.5 per cent opened between 8:30 am and 9:00 am, while 1.5 per cent began operations after 9:00 am.
“However, 5.4 per cent of polling units experienced significant delays, with officials arriving after 10:00 am.
“These figures reflect generally effective early deployment by INEC across most areas.
““Party agents offered voters up to N10,000 and N5,000, depending on the location. For example, in Achina and in Aguata LGA, agents distributed N5,000 and N2,000 payments to voters.
“In Anambra South, similar patterns were recorded. At Ichi in Ekwusigo LGA, and Achina in Aguata LGA, with agents distributing cash payments ranging from ₦2,000 to ₦5,000 in rooms situated directly across polling units.
“At Igboukwu party agents were seen distributing N5,000 to voters openly, without any response or deterrent from security personnel,” he said.
The CDD West Africa said INEC failed to visibly display the zero count in some locations and for strict compliance with operational guidelines.
It said the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) failed to capture thumbprints in some cases without corrective measures in place.
On Security, CDD said personnel were present at 87.3 per cent of polling units observed while 12.7 per cent recorded no security presence at the time of observation.
“In locations where officers were deployed, the security presence consisted of an average of three to four officers per unit, contributing to a calm and orderly voting environment in most cases.
“Polling units with fewer registered voters showed inadequate security coverage, which aligns with the 12.7 per cent of polling units that had no security personnel present,” he said.
EFCC arrests three suspected vote buyers in Anambra governorship election
Arrested yesterday by the EFCC for alleged vote buying were Emeka Ilokasia, Nwachuwu Loretta, and Emuka Chuwudi.
Ilokasia was arrested at Ward 2, Njikoka Local Government Area; Loretta was taken into custody at Ward 2(008), Awkuzu, Oyi Local Government Area; while Chuwudi was apprehended at Umunachi Village, Dunukofia Local Government Area.
The EFCC confirmed that all three suspects will be charged to court once investigations are concluded.
