The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has issued certificates of return to the Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Soludo, and his deputy, Onyekachukwu Ibezim.
Kenneth Ikeagu, the Supervising INEC National Commissioner in charge of the Anambra State election, delivered the certificates to them on Tuesday in Akwa, two days after Soludo and his deputy were proclaimed the vote winners.
The issue of certificates of return confirms Soludo and Ibezim as Anambra State’s re-elected governor and deputy governor, respectively.
While presenting the certificates, Ikeagu said, “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 held on Saturday, November 8, 2025.
“Section 72(1) of the Electoral Act 2022 mandates the Independent National Electoral Commission to issue a certificate of return within 14 days to every candidate who has been duly returned by the returning officer under the Act.
“In compliance with this statutory provision, I have the honor and privilege, in my capacity as the Supervising National Electoral Commissioner of the Anambra State governorship election, to present the certificates of return to the Governor and the Deputy Governor-elect, who emerged victorious in the just-concluded governorship election.”
Soludo, the All Progressives Grand Alliance’s governorship candidate in the November 8, 2025 election, was proclaimed the winner of the closely contested race on Sunday.
Edoba Omoregie, the Returning Officer for the Election and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Benin, announced the results at the INEC collation facility in Awka.
Soludo received 422,664 votes, defeating his closest rival and All Progressives Congress candidate, Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu, who received 99,445 votes, and the Young Progressives Party’s candidate, Paul Chukwuma, who received 37,753 votes to finish third.
According to INEC, 16 candidates representing 16 political parties ran in the election.
The state had 2,788,864 registered voters, of which 598,229 were accredited for the election.
There were 595,298 votes cast, with 11,244 ballots rejected across the state’s 21 local government regions.
According to the results, APGA candidate Soludo won all 21 local government areas by a landslide.
The governor and his deputy were brought to the state INEC headquarters by their wives.
