#AnambraDecides2021: Ex CBN Gov, Charles Soludo Wins Governorship Election

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared Former Governor of the Central Bank Of Nigeria,  Charles Soludo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), the winner of the November 6, 2021 governorship election in Anambra State.

The Returning Officer for the governorship election, Ms Florence Obi, made the declaration in the early hours of Wednesday at INEC headquarters, Awka.

Mr. Soludo polled a total of 112,229 votes to defeat his closest rival, Valentine Ozigbo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who scored 53, 807 to emerge second.

Andy Uba of the All Progressives Congress (APC) came third with a total of 43,285 votes.

INEC had suspended collation of results late Sunday night and declared the exercise inconclusive following non-conduct of election in Ihiala Local Government Area.

The commission, however, fixed Tuesday November 9 for supplementary election in Ihiala.

Announcing the final result, Ms Obi noted that after adding up the results collated from Ihiala, Mr Soludo maintained his lead in the election.

She disclosed that Mr. Soludo won in 19 of the 21 local government areas of the state.

Ms Obi listed the areas where Mr Soludo won to include; Oyi, Anaocha, Ayamelum, Anambra East, Idemili South, Dunukofia, Awka South and Onitsha South.

She also stated that the APGA candidate also won in Orumba South, Onitsha North, Idemili North, Ekwusigo, Njikoka, Aguata, Nnewi South, Orumba North and Ihiala Local Government Areas.

 

The returning officer, who is the Vice Chancellor of the University of Calabar, said: “Prof. Charles Chukwuma Soludo having scored the highest number of valid votes was declared winner of the election.”

Ms Obi put the total number of valid votes at 241,523, while 8,108 were void.

Mr Soludo is expected to be sworn in, in March 2022, when the tenure of the outgoing governor, Willie Obiano, also of the All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, expires.