Soludo seeks second term, faces Ukachukwu, 14 other challengers (LIVE UPDATES)

(Chinagorom Ugwu, Abdulkareem Mojeed, Emmanuel Agbo, Saviour Imukudo, Sharon Eboesomi and Abdulqudus Ogundapo)

Voters in Anambra State will today choose one among the 16 candidates seeking to govern the state for the next four years.

Over two million voters are eligible to vote in the 5,720 polling units across the 21 local government areas of the state.

Four of the 16 candidates in the election are considered major contenders. They are the incumbent governor, Charles Soludo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance; an entrepreneur, Nicholas Ukachukwu of the All Progressives Congress; a former managing director of the Nigerian Inland Waterways Authority, George Moghalu of the Labour Party, and a businessman and economist, John Chuma-Nwosu of the African Democratic Congress.

However, the election is expected to be a two-horse race between Messrs Soludo and Ukachukwu.

Mr Soludo is seeking a second and final term in office.

He was first elected on 6 November 2021 and sworn in on 17 March 2022. His first four-year term will end in March 2026.

Voters

Figures published by INEC show that a total of 2,802,790 people are registered voters in the state and are eligible to vote in the today’s election.

The figure marks a significant increase from the 2.65 million registered for the 2023 general election in the state.

READ ALSO: Anambra 2025: Peaceful atmosphere, heavy security presence in Anambra as INEC distributes election materials

According to INEC’s guidelines for the election, voting should start by 8:00 a.m. and end by 2:30 p.m. but voters who are at their polling units before the closing time will be allowed to vote.

Stay with PREMIUM TIMES on this page for live updates of the election.

7:23 a.m. — Akwudo Central School, Nnewi North LGA

Presiding officers from the three wards—Otolo 1, 2, and 3—have begun departing for their respective polling stations. At Akwudo Central School, which serves as the Registration Area Centre (RAC) for the three wards, PREMIUM TIMES observed several buses loaded with election materials, some of which had already departed for various polling units.

The newspaper also gathered that the RAC centre hosts two polling booths positioned opposite each other. As of the time of filing this report, presiding officers at both booths were seen setting up their voting stations in preparation for the commencement of polling activities.

7:30 a.m., many police officers had not yet been deployed because the INEC officer stated that he lacked the funds to pay the bus drivers. INEC reported that some drivers were demanding N40,000. The police indicated that over 300 officers were still awaiting deployment.

7:36 a.m. Election officers are getting ready for the poll at Okpo Village Hall in Ekwulobia, Aguata LGA

Ward: Ekwulobia 1
PUs: 029, 030, and 031

Officials say the elections will kick-start at exactly 8:30 a.m.

7:57 a.m., Polling Unit 005, Umujada in Atani, Ogbaru LGA— INEC officials and election materials were yet to arrive as of this time.

8: 00 a.m. Election officials ready to start at PU 018 in Umuchiani Village Ekwulobia, Aguata LGA

Ward: Ekwulobia 1 (06)

There are no armed security officials at the unit at the moment.

Time: 8:07 a.m

State: Anambra

LGA: Onitsha North

Polling Unit: 009

Ward: 4

Voters have turned out in large numbers at Polling Unit 009, Ward 4, but INEC officials are yet to arrive as of 8:06 a.m.

Time: 7:20 a.m.

State: Anambra

LGA: Onitsha North

Location: INEC Onitsha North LGA office

Election: Governorship

Several corps members deployed to Anambra West are currently stranded at the INEC office in Onitsha North LGA due to a shortage of vehicles to convey them to their designated polling areas.