Gov. Soludo, Deputy, Ibezim Sworn In For Second Term

By Ayodele Oni

Anambra State was agog on Tuesday as Charles Soludo was sworn in for a second term in office as the Governor of Anambra State, in a ceremony attended by top political figures across the country.

The inauguration, held on Tuesday at the newly renovated Alex Ekwueme Square in Awka, marked the formal commencement of Soludo’s second tenure. He took the oath of office alongside his deputy, Onyeka Ibezim.

Among dignitaries present at the event were vice president, Kashim Shettima, former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan, as well as elder statesman and former Commonwealth Secretary-General Emeka Anyaoku.

Also in attendance were several governors, including Siminalayi Fubara, alongside political stakeholders, traditional rulers, and party faithful, reflecting the significance of the occasion within Nigeria’s political landscape.

Soludo’s re-election followed the November 8, 2025 governorship poll conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission,(INEC).

He secured a decisive victory, polling 422,664 votes to defeat his closest challenger, Nicholas Ukachukwu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who garnered 99,445 votes. Paul Chukwuma of the Young Progressives Party (YPP) finished third with 37,753 votes.

INEC data showed that 16 candidates contested the election. Out of 2,788,864 registered voters, 598,229 were accredited, with 595,298 valid votes cast and 11,244 rejected across the state’s 21 local government areas.

In a sweeping outcome, Soludo, candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), won in all 21 local government areas, underscoring a landslide mandate from the electorate.

Soludo, in his inaugural remark, is expected to outline key priorities for his second term, with focus likely to remain on economic transformation, infrastructure development, security, and governance reforms in the state.