INEC Presents Certificates of Return to Soludo, Deputy Ibezim

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has formally confirmed the re-election of Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo and his deputy, Onyekachukwu Ibezim, by presenting them with their certificates of return.

The certificates were handed over on Tuesday in Awka by Kenneth Ikeagu, Supervising INEC National Commissioner for Anambra State, two days after the November 8 governorship election. INEC explained that the issuance complies with Section 72(1) of the Electoral Act 2022, which requires certificates of return to be issued within 14 days to candidates duly declared winners.

Soludo, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) candidate, polled 422,664 votes to defeat his closest rival, Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who received 99,445 votes. The Young Progressives Party (YPP) candidate, Paul Chukwuma, came third with 37,753 votes. The governor won across all 21 local government areas in the state.

Sixteen 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 votes rejected.

Governor Soludo and Deputy Governor Ibezim attended the certificate presentation at INEC headquarters alongside their wives, marking the official endorsement of their second term in office.