Election
Anambra: INEC issues Certificate of Return to Soludo, Deputy-elect
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has issued a Certificate of Return to the winner of the just-concluded guber election in Anambra State, Prof Charles Soludo.
The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) candidate recieved the certificate on Friday in Awka.
His running mate, Onyeka Ibezim, also got his Certificate of Return as Deputy Governor-elect.
The former governor of Central Bank won the elction with a landslide victory, bagging 19 out of 21 local government areas of the state.
Soludo polled 112,229 votes, twice higher than his closest rival, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s Valentine Ozigbo who had 53,807 votes.
“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.
Soludo has continued to recieve congratulatory messages including those from his opponents.
The 61-year-old has also been congratulated by President Muhammadu Buhari who described the election as a reflection of the people’s will, adding that 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”.
