The governorship election in Anambra State on Saturday recorded a major upset after the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Nicholas Ukachukwu, won the polling unit of former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, even as the exercise was trailed by widespread allegations of vote buying.
Results announced at about 3 p.m. from Polling Unit 019, Agulu Ward 11, Anaocha Local Government Area, showed Ukachukwu polling 73 votes, defeating Labour Party’s governorship candidate, Dr George Moghalu, who scored 57 votes. Governor Chukwuma Soludo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) came third with 38 votes.
Meanwhile, checks on the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) Result Viewing Portal (IReV) at 3:52 p.m. indicated that 2,116 polling unit results had been uploaded, representing 36.99 per cent of the 5,718 polling units across the state.
Governor Soludo, who voted at Polling Unit 002, Ofiyi Square, Umueze, Isuofia Ward 13 in Aguata Local Government Area, described the election as largely peaceful but raised alarm over what he called “rampant vote buying” in parts of Nnewi South.
“We have credible reports that some voters are receiving up to N15,000 in some units,” Soludo said. He also alleged that a political party had instructed its polling agents to disrupt proper documentation of results to create room for manipulation during collation.
“One party is banking on swapping results during collation. They told their agents not to upload properly on IReV. But we are vigilant. If the process goes as planned, we are confident of winning in all 21 local government areas,” he stated.
Ukachukwu, speaking after casting his vote at Umudimala Amaihe Hall, Osumenyi in Nnewi South, also condemned the heavy monetisation of the poll, warning that vote buying threatens Nigeria’s democratic foundation.
“Vote buying is gradually replacing democracy. Leaders elected through inducement will have no capacity to serve,” he said, adding that one of his polling agents was assaulted in Utuh community.
Labour Party candidate, Moghalu, who voted at Uruagu Ward 1 in Nnewi, decried voter apathy and the monetisation of ballots, saying the trend reflects a deep loss of public confidence in elections.
“When the electoral process is monetised, poverty is weaponised. That is not democracy,” he said.
Despite the concerns, the candidates commended INEC for early deployment of materials and improved logistics, while calling on security agencies to intensify monitoring during collation at ward and local government levels.
Collation was ongoing at press time.
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