Anambra Election: INEC Presents Certificate Of Return To Soludo, Deputy
Professor Charles Soludo, the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), has received his Certificate of Return from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), following his victory in the just-concluded gubernatorial election in Anambra State.
Soludo, who was a former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), received the Certificate of Return in a ceremony on Friday in the state capital, Awka.
The Deputy Governor-elect, Onyeka Ibezim, also got his Certificate of Return.
Soludo signing the Certificate of Return from INEC.
Onyeka Ibezim signing his Certificate of Return.
Soludo won under the All Progressives Grand Alliance party, APGA which is currently ruling the state with Governor Willie Obiano.
The former CBN Governor won 19 of the 21 local governments’ areas including Ihiala LGA which had its own election done on Monday.
According to PUNCH, Soludo polled 112,229 votes, thereby defeating his closest rivals, Valentine Ozigbo of the Peoples Democratic Party who polled 53,807 votes, Senator Andy Uba of the All Progressives Congress who got 43,285 votes and Ifeanyi Ubah of the Young Progressive Party who polled 21,261 votes.
He was declared winner of the election by the state Returning Officer for the election, Florence Obi, on Wednesday.
“That Charles Chukwuma Soludo of APGA, having satisfied the requirements of the law is hereby declared the winner and is returned elected,” the returning officer for the election, Professor Florence Obi, said while pronouncing him as the winner.
Vondigest understands that since his unanimous victory, Governor-elect, Professor Soludo has been receiving flood of congratulatory messages, including those from his opponents.
President Muhammadu Buhari, who was among the first to congratulate Soludo on his victory and described the election as a reflection of the people’s will and said he looks forward to working with him.
“President Buhari enjoins Prof. Soludo, member of the Presidential Economic Advisory Committee, to rally other stakeholders to tackle the enormous challenges confronting the State and the Southeast in general,” presidential aide, Femi Adesina, said in a statement.
“The President looks forward to working with the incoming governor for the peace, security, and development of not only Anambra State but the entire country.”
Soludo had, in the wake of his win, thanked the people of Anambra State for giving him the mandate.
He equally extended the olive branch to other contestants, asking them to keep the “spirit of Anambra alive and strong” and “take our homeland to the moon”.
