19:30: #AnambraDecides2025: INEC uploads 36.99% of results on IReV
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has uploaded 36.99 per cent of results from the Anambra State governorship election to its Result Viewing Portal (IReV). Recent checks on the INEC website on Saturday confirmed the update.
Out of the 5,718 polling units where the election was conducted, results from 2,116 polling units have been uploaded to the portal.
Details later….
18:00: #AnambraDecides2025: Peter Obi loses polling unit to APC
The Labour Party (LP) lost in the polling unit of its 2023 presidential flagbearer, Peter Obi, in the ongoing Anambra State governorship election.
According to the result announced at about 3 p.m. at Polling Unit 019, Agulu Ward 11, Anaocha Local Government Area, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Nicholas Ukachukwu, polled 73 votes in the unit to defeat the Labour Party candidate, George Moghalu, who has a total of 57 votes.
READ MORE: https://guardian.ng/politics/anambradecides2025-peter-obi-loses-polling-unit-to-apc/
The ruling All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) came third with 38 votes in the unit.
Obi cast his ballot earlier in the day at the same polling unit. He has decried vote buying in the ongoing Anambra State governorship election, alleging that votes are being bought for between ₦20,000 and ₦30,000.
16:38:: APC guber candidate, Nicholas Ukachukwu wins polling unit
16:01:#AnambraDecides2025: Results
Orumba south
Umunze 1
PU 010 Ugwunano Primary School.
At 14:45 pm counting of results started with APGA winning the polling unit as follows:
APGA 165
APC 12
YPP 4
ADC 1
Invalid 2
15:45: #AnambraDecides2025: Ukachukwu cries out over vote buying by APGA
The All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Nicholas Ukachukwu, has accused the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) of “massive vote buying.”
It could be recalled that Governor Charles Soludo of APGA had, during an interview after casting his vote, accused a “candidate from Nnewi South” of vote buying.
Although he refrained from mentioning names, he stated that the candidate was paying N15,000 for each vote.
But the APC flag bearer, who voted at about 11:45 a.m. at his Umudiala 1, PU 011, Osumenyi Ward 2, Nnewi South Council of Anambra State, insisted that the ruling party in the state should be held culpable.
He pointed out that the news across the state is that “APGA is buying votes.”
Collated Results
Orumba South
Umunze 1
PU 010 Ugwunano Primary School.
At 14:45 pm counting of results started with APGA winning the polling unit as follows:
APGA 165
APC 12
YPP 4
ADC 1
Invalid 2
15:30: #AnambraDecides2025: Poll peaceful, hitch-free, says Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu
Lawrence Njoku, Awka
Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, has adjudged the Anambra State governorship election as peaceful and without tangible hitches.
The Minister stated this after casting her vote at about 12.25 p.m. at Polling Unit 001, Ward 2, at the premises of St. Stephen’s Anglican Church, Okpuno-Egbu, Umudim Nnewi, Nnewi North Local Government Area, adding that she was satisfied with the process.
Mrs Odumegwu-Ojukwu, who also monitored the election in some polling units in Uruagu Ward 2, lauded the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for their satisfactory and commendable performance.
Teeming voters at Polling Unit 019 and others at Uruagu Ward 2 sang praises of the Minister.
Ahead of the announcement of the election results, she urged the contestants to take whatever is the outcome in good faith.
She said the ultimate aim was to elect a governor that serves the interest of Anambra State and its people.
15:20:#AnambraDecides2025: Soludo alleges vote buying, optimistic of victory if electoral system works
Anambra State Governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, has alleged acts of vote buying by an unnamed opposition party in the Saturday, November 8, 2025 governorship election in Anambra State.
Soludo, who is seeking re-election on the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), spoke to newsmen shortly after casting his vote alongside his wife at Ofiyi Square Polling Unit 002 in Isuofia, Aguata Local Government Area of the state at about 1:25 p.m.
READ MORE:https://guardian.ng/politics/soludo-alleges-vote-buying-optimistic-of-victory-if-electoral-system-works/
He expressed optimism about his victory if the system is made to work in line with the Electoral Act and INEC guidelines.
According to him, reports reaching him indicate that APGA is heading towards securing a 21/21 local government victory. He said he does not take the votes of the people for granted.
14:10: #AnambraDecides2025: Gov. Soludo arrives polling unit amid heavy security
Gov. Charles Soludo arrives at his polling unit,002, Umueziadigo street, Isuofia, Aguata local government area to cast his vote
14:00: #AnambraDecides2025: Obi alleges vote buying in Anambra election
Presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, has decried vote buying in the ongoing Anambra State governorship election, alleging that votes are being bought for between ₦20,000 and ₦30,000.
Obi, who spoke shortly after voting at about 11:50 a.m. at his Umudim/Akasi Ward, said the development was not good for the country’s democracy.
READ MORE:https://guardian.ng/politics/obi-alleges-vote-buying-in-anambra-election/
He said, “My personal experience is that democracy is deteriorating in our country. Unfortunately, those who are the victims of bad governance seem to be fuelling it. I have been able to listen to people around on what is happening today. What you see is that vote buying is on the scale of ₦20,000, ₦30,000.
12:30 pm: #AnambraDecides2025: Peter Obi votes
Former Anambra State Governor and presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 general election, Peter Obi, has finally cast his vote at Polling Unit 019, Umudim Akasi Agulu 2, Ward 8, after a long wait.
The former Governor of the State was cheered by voter as he joined residents in exercising his civic right during the Anambra State governorship election on Saturday.
11:00am: 96-yr-old voter disenfranchised as BVAS malfunctions delay accreditation in Onitsha
Mrs Elizabeth Onike, aged 96, was unable to cast her vote at Umudim/Akasi polling unit 019 in Agulu Ward 2, Aniocha Local Government Area, Anambra State, after failing to produce her voter’s card.
The nonagenarian, who was crying about being disenfranchised because she could not produce her voter’s card, had joined others to vote at her ward, however, when asked where she had left her voter’s card, she retorted in Igbo: “I don’t know where it is. I cannot find it.”
From her pleading, it was obvious that she was eager to vote. Those around her stated that she came on her own.
At the polling unit, voting started as early as 9 a.m. The old woman is said to have arrived at the venue before 9 a.m. and got a seat for herself. When it was time for accreditation, however, she was asked about her voter’s card, but she could not produce it.
The polling unit is also where the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, will cast his vote later in the day.
10:40 am:#AnambraDecides2025: Tight security, partial compliance as movement restriction grounds Onitsha
The usually bustling commercial city of Onitsha was on Saturday thrown into an unusual calm as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) enforced restriction of movement during the governorship election in Anambra State.
From early morning, major streets and markets that ordinarily witness heavy human and vehicular traffic were deserted, with commercial activities largely put on hold.
Local traders, artisans, and market women complied strictly with the movement restriction order, closing their shops in line with the 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. directive.
10:30 am: Voters lined up to vote at polling units 019, Umudike, Agulu11
10:15 am: Anambra polls start slow as voting materials arrive lateFrom Monday Osayande, Asaba
The Anambra State governorship election on Saturday in Onitsha South commenced on a slow note, as voting materials arrived late in several polling units, with a low voter turnout observed in key areas of the state.
At Christ the King College (CKC), Onitsha — the designated venue for Ward 1, Units 18, 19, and 20 — materials from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) arrived at about 9:15 a.m., nearly two hours after the official commencement of polling.
By 9:50 a.m., only a handful of voters were seen milling around the polling centres, waiting for accreditation and the commencement of voting. Security operatives from the Nigeria Police Force and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) were stationed at strategic points to maintain order and ensure safety.
Head of the INEC distribution team in the area, Chika Ogbonnaya, confirmed that all materials meant for the election had been distributed across the wards. However, she gave no reason for the slight delay in dispatching materials to the polling units, a lapse that sparked mild agitation among early voters.
The Anambra governorship election, seen as a crucial test of Nigeria’s democratic resilience ahead of future polls, continues under tight security across the state.
#AnambraDecides2025: As Anambra votes, early turnout remains low amid citizen scepticismFrom Lawrence Njoku, Awka and agency report
The governorship election in Anambra State commenced at exactly 8:30 a.m. on Saturday at Udeozo Primary School, Awka, in Awka South Local Government Area.
Officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) began accreditation simultaneously at the three polling units within the school premises, with only a handful of voters present at the time.
Read More: https://guardian.ng/politics/anambradecides2025-as-anambra-votes-early-turnout-remains-low-amid-citizen-scepticism/While the exercise took place under the mango trees, some young men were seen playing football on the school field, seemingly indifferent to the ongoing election.
10:05 am:#AnambraDecides2025: Observers express confidence in peaceful poll as security tightens
As voters head to the polls in Anambra State, civil society groups have expressed confidence that the governorship election will hold peacefully despite the heavy deployment of security operatives across the state.
Speaking during an election monitoring exercise, Jake Epelle, Founder of TAF Africa, said the general atmosphere in Anambra remained calm, with residents showing restraint and determination to protect their communities.
“The security situation is not something to worry much about. The Anambra people are peace-loving. Everyone wants to ensure they don’t shed their own blood, so they find ways to secure themselves,” Epelle said in a Channels TV report.
09:55 am: Low turnout as Anambra governorship election begins in AwkaFrom Lawrence Njoku,
The governorship election in Anambra State commenced at exactly 8:30 a.m. on Saturday at Udeozo Primary School, Awka, in Awka South Local Government Area.
Officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) began accreditation simultaneously at the three polling units within the school premises, with only a handful of voters present at the time.
While the exercise took place under the mango trees, some young men were seen playing football on the school field, seemingly indifferent to the ongoing election.
One of them, who identified himself as Sunday, told The Guardian that he had no interest in voting.“Our votes have not counted in the past, so what is the essence of voting today?” he asked.
An elderly voter, 79-year-old Mr. Ogbodo, who cast his ballot around 8:55 a.m., described the process as “smooth” and expressed hope that it would remain peaceful throughout the day
09:45 am:
09:30 am
09:22 am: Officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were spotted at around 8 am at Central School III, Awka South Local Government Area, setting up election materials and preparing polling booths for the day’s election.
It promises to be a tight race in an election that features 16 candidates from 16 political parties vying to unseat the incumbent governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, who is seeking re-election on the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).
08:30 am: The governorship election for Anambra state started at exactly 8.30am at the Udeozo Primary School, Awka, Awka south local government area on Saturday.
Officials of the INEC began accreditation at the three polling units at exactly 8.30 with a handful of voters around.
But while the exercise went on under the mango trees, some young men were playing football at the football pitch of the school.
Some of them who spoke with The Guardian, said they were not “interested in the election”.
One of them, Sunday, stated that “our votes have not counted in the past. So what is the essence of voting today”.
One of th earlier voters at about 8.55am, 79 year old, Ogbodo said the process was “smooth”. He prayed it would continue for the rest of the day. From Lawrence Njoku, Awka
08:54 am: The Anambra State governorship election holds today, Saturday, November 8, 2025 across 21 local governments in the state.
According to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), 2,802,790 eligible voters at the 5,718 polling booths will decide the fate of Anambra State for the next four years.
Incumbent governor Chukwuma Soludo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), a leading candidate for the election, is seeking the electorates’ votes for a second term in office.
Soludo is being challenged by Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. George Moghalu of Labour Party (LP), Sir Paul Chukwuma, of Young Progressives Party (YPP), Mr. John Chuma Nwosu of African Democratic Congress (ADC) and Chioma Ifemeludike, the only female contender of African Action Congress (AAC).
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