Opposition political parties participating in the November 8 governorship election in Anambra State have called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to investigate the state government’s spending in the lead-up to the poll and impose sanctions where necessary.

Their demand followed a recent statement by Governor Charles Soludo, who pledged financial rewards for every ward won by his party, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), in the election.

Soludo, who is seeking re-election on the APGA platform, made the announcement during a campaign rally in Umunze, Orumba South Local Government Area, where he referenced similar promises made during the South Senatorial Zone election earlier this year.
“We promised each of these wards ₦1 million, and next week, we will redeem it. The ward that comes first will get ₦5 million, the second ₦3 million, and the third ₦2 million. For November 8, any ward that wins again will receive ₦1 million, while the top three performing wards will get ₦5 million, ₦2 million, and ₦1 million respectively,” the governor said.

The statement sparked outrage among opposition parties, who accused Soludo of engaging in vote buying and called on INEC to investigate the matter urgently.

The governorship candidate of the Young Progressives Party (YPP), Paul Chukwuma, said his party remained committed to a peaceful, free, and fair election but warned that vote buying had reached an alarming level under the state government.

Chukwuma also alleged that “state-backed armed militias parading prohibited firearms” posed a threat to the electoral process, urging INEC and security agencies to ensure that the election remains credible and violence-free.

Similarly, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate, John Nwosu, through his Chief of Staff, Ben Chuks Nwosu, urged INEC to enforce electoral laws strictly and ensure that perpetrators of vote buying face justice.

He said: “Vote buying must be dealt with decisively if a credible election is to be achieved. We are hopeful that INEC will set a new standard for transparency and fairness in this election.”

The Director-General of the George Muoghalu Campaign Organisation, Okey Chukwuogo, also expressed concern about the use of state resources in the election but expressed confidence in INEC’s capacity to conduct a peaceful poll.
“What worries us is the willingness. The incumbent has enormous resources at his disposal, and we can’t predict how they intend to deploy them. The Labour Party remains committed to peaceful participation and will continue to resist vote buying,” he stated.

In response, the Anambra State government dismissed the allegations, describing Soludo’s comments as “an act of motivation, not inducement.”
Commissioner for Information, Dr. Law Mefor, accused the opposition of mischief and distortion. “The governor’s remarks were taken out of context.

What he said was meant to energize and motivate his supporters, not to buy votes,” he said.

Meanwhile, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Nicholas Ukachukwu, assured voters of stable power supply and enhanced security if elected.

Speaking to traders in Onitsha at the weekend, Ukachukwu promised to harness the Omasi gas deposit in Ayamelum Local Government Area for the state’s energy needs and pledged to prioritise education through scholarships and infrastructure renewal.

He signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with traders, outlining his commitments to address multiple taxation, insecurity, poor road networks, and extortion by touts.

Market leaders expressed appreciation for his public commitment, describing it as a bold step toward inclusive governance and accountability.