The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Tuesday presented certificates of return to Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Soludo, and his deputy, Onyekachukwu Ibezim, officially confirming their re-election.
The certificates were handed over by Kenneth Ikeagu, Supervising INEC National Commissioner for Anambra State, in Awka, two days after Soludo and Ibezim were declared winners of the November 8 governorship election.
Speaking during the presentation, Ikeagu said, “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.”
Soludo, candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), defeated his closest rival, Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who scored 99,445 votes. Paul Chukwuma of the Young Progressives Party (YPP) placed third with 37,753 votes.
The returning officer, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Benin, Edoba Omoregie, announced that Soludo polled 422,664 votes, winning all 21 local government areas in a landslide.
INEC noted that 16 candidates from 16 political parties contested the election. Out of 2,788,864 registered voters, 598,229 were accredited, with 595,298 votes cast and 11,244 rejected.
Soludo and Ibezim were accompanied to the INEC headquarters by their wives during the certificate presentation.
