The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Tuesday, presented a Certificate of Return to Anambra State Governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo and his Deputy, Dr Onyekachukwu Ibezim following their re-election on November 8 poll.
Soludo, who was the candidate of All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) at the poll, polled 422,664 votes out of 595,298 total number of votes cast to defeat 15 others, including his closest rival and candidate of All Progressive Congress (APC), Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu that scored 99,445 votes.
The National Chairman of INEC, Professor Joash Amupitan, represented by the Supervising National Commissioner in charge of Anambra state, Dr. Ken Ukeagu, commended the electorate for their conducts during the election and wished Soludo as successful tenure.
Also speaking, the State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr Queen Elizabeth Agwu, described the certificate of return as a sacred trust, call to service and renewal of hope, and urged him to bear this weight of responsibility with humility, fairness and fear of God.
Responding, the governor-elect, Prof. Soludo, described the outcome of the election as a resounding victory noting that “Anambra people spoke loudly and even the heaven heard it.”
“It was election like no other. It was historically unique throughout the State. The communities and organisations took it upon themselves to campaign for my reelection; donating generously and funding it as their own. And it was demonstrated by the result. Anambra has never experienced the type of election we experienced last Saturday.
“Some stood up at night and morning for free, fair and credible election, and it happened. It commands more than consensus. I’m calling on my brothers and sisters that contested with me to come together, let us work together and move Anambra State forward,” he stated.
Speaking in an interview, a former Senatorial aspirant of APGA in Anambra South, Chief Ebuka Onunkwo, commended President Bola Tinubu and INEC for being commited to free and fair poll, noting that the governor would be supported by all to make this statement liveable and prosperous.
