By Peter Omopo
Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has congratulated Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State on his re-election, describing the outcome of the poll as a triumph of democracy and a reflection of the people’s confidence in Soludo’s leadership.
In a statement issued on Monday by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, Adeleke said the election result demonstrated that the will of the people, freely expressed through the ballot, must always be respected.
“I warmly rejoice with my brother, Prof. Soludo. His re-election is a reflection of his good performance over the past four years and the deep affection the people of Anambra have for his leadership and service,” the governor stated.
Adeleke commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for conducting a credible poll, noting that the exercise affirmed that “free and fair elections are possible when true democrats superintend the electoral process.”
He urged politicians to respect the sanctity of the ballot, emphasising that “power flows from the people” and that no one should attempt to subvert the collective will of voters.
“As we have always canvassed, the bedrock of sustainable democracy is free and fair elections where the choices of voters are respected,” he said. “We must outlaw electoral robbery and sanction any politician attempting to manipulate the process. Democracy is not about intimidation, vote rigging, or violence — it is about the ballot and the people’s choice.”
Governor Adeleke also praised the new INEC Chairman, Prof. Amupitan, for what he described as “a commendable start,” urging him to deepen electoral reforms and address remaining challenges in Nigeria’s democratic process.
He further appealed to political leaders across the country to recommit to transparency and accountability in the electoral system as a mark of respect for the Constitution and the electorate.
The Independent National Electoral Commission on Sunday declared Prof. Chukwuma Soludo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) winner of the November 8, 2025 Anambra State governorship election. Soludo secured 422,664 votes, defeating Nicholas Ukachukwu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who scored 99,445 votes, while Paul Chukwuma of the Young Progressives Party (YPP) came third with 37,753 votes.
