Anambra Governor Elect Charles Soludo Delivers First Speech

The winner of the just concluded Anambra Governorship Election, Chukwuma Charles Soludo has delivered his first speech after he was declared victorious by the Independent National Electoral Commission on Wednesday morning.

The candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance accepted the final outcome of the polls which started on November 6 and ended on Tuesday, November 9, ascribing his victory in the 2021 Anambra Governorship Election as a reflection of the people’s will.

Naija News reports that the former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria won the Anambra polls with total votes of 112,229, defeating the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Valentine Ozigbo who polled 53,807 votes, and Andy Uba of the All Progressives Congress who got 43,285 votes.

The least from the top, Ifeanyi Ubah of the Young Progressive Party polled 21,261 to emerge fourth in the race.

Having concluded her duty and satisfied with the processes, the Returning Officer of the Anambra Governorship Election, Prof Florence Obi, announced the result on Wednesday morning at the INEC office in Awka, Anambra State.

“That Charles Chukwuma Soludo of APGA, having satisfied the requirements of the law is hereby declared the winner and is returned elected,” the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Calabar said on Wednesday.

Naija News understands that the declaration came after a supplementary election was held in Ihiala Local Government Area of the state on Tuesday.

Recording another victory in Ihiala, Soludo extended his winning to 19 out of the 21 local governments areas in Anambra State.

Speaking during an acceptance speech shortly after he was declared winner by INEC, Soludo said, “Let me say with utmost humility and gratitude to God, I accept the results of the 2021 Anambra Governorship Election as declared by INEC. And this reflects the supreme will of the Almighty God and an overwhelming sacred mandate of the people. This is a divine journey whose time has come.”

“The election itself tested the integrity of our federal institutions. Many times there were tensions, especially as one party boasted that it must take or ‘conquer’ but the judiciary stood for the integrity of the judiciary,” he added.

Soludo extends his gratitude to the incumbent Governor of Anambra State, Willie Obiano; and the President Muhammadu Buhari, amongst a list of persons.

The former CBN governor assured Anambra people that he will deliver the dividends of democracy to them.

Soludo is expected to be sworn into office next March after the expiration of the two-term tenure of Obiano, who is also of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, Naija News understands.