Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State has received the Certificate of Return from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the winner of the November 8, 2025, Gubernatorial Election.

The presentation of the Certificate of Return is in line with Section 72(1) of the Electoral Act, 2022, which stipulates that a candidate in an election must receive it within 14 days of the election.

Presenting the certificate at the INEC’s headquarters in Awka, the state capital, on Tuesday, the INEC Supervising National Commissioner and Chairman of Tenders Board Committee, Dr. Ken Ukeagu 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.”

Speaking after receiving the certificate as the returnee governor, Soludo said, “I want to once again appreciate the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Bola Tinubu, for his very firm stand that this is a multi-democracy and that the votes of the people must count.”

Soludo thanked God for what he described as “the miracle of victory,” expressing appreciation to INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan,
He said: “I congratulate INEC and its new chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan. I said it before: you don’t get a second chance to create a first impression. We are quite delighted here in Anambra that his first outing was here, and it was very loud. I think the whole world celebrated it. I want to use this opportunity to thank INEC and say they deserve better credit than they have been given.

“There is indeed hope for this country. I always see Nigeria as half full, not half empty. I thank the security agencies, they stood firm and insisted that the will of the people must not be subverted.

“We had an unprecedented turnout, almost 600,000 people came out. The very first time in the history of Anambra State, a candidate got 73 per cent of the total votes cast, winning 98 per cent of all the wards and 99 per cent of all the polling units. There are several local governments where we didn’t lose even one polling unit

“And to INEC I say it again, you did well and you have given us confidence in our electoral system once again. I have always said that our electoral process has been getting better and better. Every electoral year, we look back and see that we have done better than the previous one.

“When we had a by-election in August this year, our stand was, let the votes count. Let the people vote, count the votes and announce the results.

INEC did, and for the first time, APGA won a Senate election with 75 per cent just because the votes were allowed to count.

“This time, we did it against and we said we stood for free, fair, credible and transparent election, and INEC did it.”

The governor equally thanked the people of Anambra State who came out and stood under the sun for hours to exercise their franchise.

“I want to assure Ndi Anambra that with my Deputy, Dr. Ibezim, and our team, we will make Anambra shine even brighter,” Soludo said.

“I promise to work harder in my second term than I did in my first, so that at the end of eight years, Anambra will look back with pride that the trust reposed in us was not misplaced ”

Continuing, he said: “To the candidates, I say we are like that in Anambra, we are brothers. In 2010, I ran, and even though the winner said it was a sham and scored only 30 per cent, I called a press conference two hours later and congratulated him.”

Furthermore, he asked: “Let us come together and build the Anambra of our dreams — a thriving, livable, and prosperous homeland that will be the pride of Nigeria.”

The event was attended by the governor’s wife, Dr Mrs. Nonye Soludo, and their children, as well as top government officials, members of the Federal and State Houses of Assembly, and supporters of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).