As the November 8th, 2025 Anambra governorship election draws closer, a strong message has emerged from concerned citizens and stakeholders across the state, urging the electorate to reject vote-buying and resist attempts to mortgage the future of the state for short-term financial inducements.
In a statement made available to the press, the group cautioned Anambra residents against re-electing the incumbent governor, Prof. Charles Soludo, describing his administration as “a failure that has brought untold hardship to civil servants, promoted insecurity, and encouraged Ndi Aka Ọdọ practices.”
The statement read in part:
“The attention of Anambrarians should be drawn to the forthcoming governorship election scheduled for Saturday, November 8th, 2025. We urge all well-meaning citizens to come out en masse and vote out the incompetent government in power, replacing it with a God-fearing administration that will make our democracy work in the interest of the people.”
The group alleged that the Soludo-led government has resorted to desperate measures, including the distribution of cash to voters and political loyalists ahead of the polls. According to them, the governor’s vote-buying strategy involves payments ranging from ₦20,000 to ₦50,000 per voter, allegedly channelled through local government chairmen and political aides.
“The money he is sharing now is your settlement for the next four years once you allow him to succeed in buying your votes. It is disheartening to see a governor who claims to be a professor championing vote-buying in an election,” the statement continued.
They further alleged that ₦20,000 per vote is currently being advanced, with an additional ₦30,000 promised for collection on election day as balance. However, the majority of those who collected the ₦20,000 advance reportedly vowed never to vote for Soludo, even if he offers them ₦100,000, insisting that the money belongs to the public and not to him.
Calling for vigilance and integrity, the group emphasized that re-electing Soludo would amount to rewarding failure and perpetuating economic hardship and misgovernance.
“Anambrarians are hereby advised to reject vote-buying, reject bad governance, and reject a four-year reinforcement of failure. Our votes are not for sale,” the statement concluded.
By Raymond Chiemerie
