The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has formally presented Certificates of Return to Anambra State Governor, Professor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, and his deputy, Dr. Onyekachukwu Ibezim, confirming their re-election for a second term in office.
The certificates were handed to the duo on Tuesday in Awka by the Supervising National Commissioner for the Anambra governorship election, Kenneth Ikeagu, two days after the Commission declared them winners of the November 8, 2025 poll.
Speaking during the presentation, Ikeagu said the exercise was in line with Section 72(1) of the Electoral Act (2022) which mandates INEC to issue certificates of return within 14 days to candidates duly returned elected.
“We are here to present the certificates of return to the Governor and Deputy Governor of Anambra State, following their successful outing during the state governorship election,” Ikeagu said. “In compliance with this statutory provision, I have the honour to present the certificates of return to the Governor and Deputy Governor-elect who emerged victorious in the just-concluded election.”
Soludo, who contested under the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), was returned elected after polling 422,664 votes, winning in all 21 Local Government Areas of the state. His closest rival, Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), recorded 99,445 votes, while the Young Progressives Party candidate, Paul Chukwuma, came third with 37,753 votes.
The Returning Officer for the election and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Benin, Prof. Edoba Omoregie, had earlier announced the results at the INEC collation centre in Awka.
According to the election statistics released by INEC, Anambra has 2,788,864 registered voters, out of which 598,229 were accredited. Total votes cast stood at 595,298, while 11,244 were rejected across the 21 LGAs.
The governor and his deputy, accompanied by their spouses, were received by party supporters and government officials at the INEC headquarters.
The presentation of the certificates marks the official confirmation of Soludo and Ibezim’s second tenure, signaling the continuation of the APGA-led administration in the state
