INEC Achieves Near-Complete Result Upload to IReV
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Nigeria has announced the near-complete upload of results from the recent Anambra State governorship election to its Result Viewing Portal (IReV). As of late Sunday, November 9, 2025, results from 5,678 polling units, representing 99.27% of the total 5,720 polling units across the state, had been made public on the portal. This rapid transmission of results signifies an improvement in INEC's deployment of technology for electoral processes.
The IReV portal serves as a digital public notice board, allowing citizens to view scanned copies of result sheets directly from polling units. This initiative aims to enhance transparency and accountability in the electoral system, although the official declaration of winners still follows manual collation at various levels. The election was the first major one to utilize the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) device for accreditation and online result transmission, with polling unit workers uploading results directly to the portal.
Widespread Vote-Buying Allegations Surface
Despite the largely peaceful conduct of the election, the exercise was marred by numerous allegations of vote-buying. Several candidates, including the incumbent Governor Charles Soludo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), and election monitors, reported incidents of voters being offered financial inducements.
- Allegations suggested voters were offered between ₦3,000 and ₦5,000 for their votes in some areas.
- Other reports indicated even higher sums, with some voters allegedly receiving up to ₦15,000 to ₦30,000.
- The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) confirmed the arrest of three suspects for alleged vote-buying during the election. These arrests were made in various local government areas, including Njikoka, Oyi, and Dunukofia.
The alleged vote-buying activities were described by some observers as 'coded,' with agents reportedly approaching voters after accreditation to confirm their preferred candidate before payment.
INEC Dismisses Unsubstantiated Claims
In response to the allegations, the Resident Electoral Commissioner for Anambra State, Queen Agwu, dismissed claims of widespread vote-buying as unsubstantiated. She urged anyone with concrete evidence to come forward, stating that no verified incidents were reported to the commission's situation room throughout the exercise. Agwu emphasized that vote-buying is a serious offense and requires factual proof.
Governor Soludo Declared Winner
Following the collation of results, Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) was declared the winner of the Anambra State governorship election. He secured a second term in office, set to run until 2030. Soludo garnered a total of 422,664 votes, achieving a landslide victory across the 21 local government areas of the state.
His closest rival was Nicholas Ukachukwu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who polled 99,445 votes. Paul Chukwuma of the Young Progressives Party (YPP) came in third with 37,753 votes. Despite the reported issues, the election was generally characterized by a low voter turnout but was largely peaceful.
5 Comments
Bermudez
Low voter turnout proves people are losing faith.
Coccinella
Soludo's second term is confirmed, which provides continuity, but the underlying problem of widespread vote-buying raises serious questions about the true mandate. We need to address the economic factors driving this.
Africa
BVAS and IReV are transforming our elections for the better.
Habibi
While the election was largely peaceful and Soludo won convincingly, the persistent allegations of voters being paid significantly erode trust in the process. Both outcomes need careful consideration.
Muchacha
The BVAS system is a step forward for accreditation, but it's clear that vote-buying tactics are evolving to bypass such measures. A truly fair election requires both technological solutions and ethical voter education.