The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially presented certificates of return to Anambra State Governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, and his deputy, Onyekachukwu Ibezim, confirming their re-election.
The presentation took place on Tuesday in Awka, where the certificates were handed over by Kenneth Ikeagu, the Supervising INEC National Commissioner for Anambra State.
Ikeagu explained that the presentation was in line with the Electoral Act. “Section 72(1) of the Electoral Act 2022 mandates INEC to issue a certificate of return within 14 days to every candidate duly returned by the returning officer. In compliance with this provision, it is my honour to present the certificates of return to the Governor and Deputy Governor-elect, who emerged victorious in the election,” he said.
Soludo, the candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), won by a wide margin in the November 8 governorship election. He secured 422,664 votes to defeat his closest rival, Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who garnered 99,445 votes. Paul Chukwuma of the Young Progressives Party (YPP) came third with 37,753 votes.
The returning officer, Professor Edoba Omoregie, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Benin, declared Soludo the winner after he won all 21 local government areas of the state.
INEC reported that 16 candidates contested the election. Out of 2,788,864 registered voters, 598,229 were accredited, while 595,298 votes were cast, and 11,244 were rejected.
Governor Soludo and his deputy were accompanied by their wives during the presentation ceremony at the INEC headquarters in Awka.
