By Christian ABURIME
The dust has settled on Saturday’s by-elections in Anambra State, and the results speak volumes about the political maturity of Ndi Anambra and the growing confidence in democratic institutions under Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo’s leadership, along with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s progressive disposition. The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) did not just win; the ruling party delivered a resounding statement about effective governance and electoral integrity.
Chief Emmanuel Nwachukwu’s commanding victory in the Anambra South Senatorial District, securing 90,408 votes against the APC’s 19,812, represents more than a numerical triumph. It is a referendum on Governor Soludo’s governance impact on his first-term performance. When a ruling party wins by such overwhelming margins in a competitive democracy, it signals that voters are rewarding concrete achievements rather than empty campaign rhetoric.
Similarly, Barrister Mimi Ifeoma Azikiwe’s victory in Onitsha North Constituency 1 with 7,774 votes further consolidates APGA’s legislative presence in the State House of Assembly, creating a unified platform for continued development initiatives. These electoral feats go beyond marginal wins squeezed out through political maneuvering to prove decisive mandates that reflect genuine popular support.
Perhaps, the most commendable aspect of Saturday’s exercise was the seamless collaboration between federal and state institutions. President Tinubu’s administration, INEC, and security agencies created an environment where democracy could flourish without the usual disruptions that have plagued Nigerian elections. This bipartisan commitment to electoral integrity deserves recognition and replication in future elections.
The fact that a few opposition figures attempted to create confusion but failed spectacularly speaks to both the vigilance of electoral officials and the political sophistication of Anambra voters. Ndi Anambra refused to be distracted by manufactured controversies, choosing instead to focus on the substantive issues that affect their daily lives.
In terms of responsible leadership, Governor Soludo’s visible role in the campaigns pointed to a confident leader putting his administration’s record before the people on behalf of the party’s candidates. When a governor actively campaigns knowing that the results will be interpreted as a judgment on his performance, it demonstrates remarkable confidence in his achievements. The wide margins of victory across local government areas validate this confidence and suggest that Governor Soludo’s governance model touches base with grassroots constituents.
While it might sound presumptuous to view these by-elections as a definitive preview of the upcoming governorship election, the trends are unmistakably positive for APGA and Governor Soludo. The party’s ability to mobilise across diverse constituencies while maintaining electoral credibility positions them advantageously for the November 2025 guber election.
More importantly, these results suggest that Anambra voters are developing a more sophisticated political consciousness, one that prioritises performance over propaganda, results over rhetoric, and sustainable development over short-term gains. This is a worthy evolution in political culture.
Indeed, the peaceful, transparent, and credible nature of Saturday’s by-elections should become the new normal for Nigerian democracy. When federal authorities, electoral officials, security agencies, and state governments work in accord to protect the sanctity of the ballot, democracy wins regardless of which party emerges victorious.
The people have spoken, and their message is resonant: performance matters, integrity counts, and Anambra is ready to continue its journey toward sustainable development under the proven APGA leadership of Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, CFR.