Candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in the Anambra governorship election, John Nwosu, has rejected the outcome of the exercise.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Sunday, declared Soludo, the incumbent governor of the state winner of the election with 422,664 votes, while Nicholas Ukachukwu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, was second with 99,445 votes. Nwosu came a distant fifth with 8,208 votes.
In a statement released after the exercise, Nwosu described the election as a “ruse and total subversion of the people’s will”.
Nwosu alleged that the people of Anambra had not truly expressed their choice, citing widespread vote buying and financial inducement at polling units across the state.
“In almost every polling unit, voters were openly induced with cash ranging from N3,000 to N20,000, turning the entire process into a marketplace rather than a democratic exercise,” he said.
“This is a national embarrassment and a direct assault on the integrity of our democracy; it was a win bought with cash and a loss for democracy.”
Nwosu emphasised that “true victory is judged not by the outcome but by the integrity of the process”.
“An election riddled with corruption, manipulation, and vote trading cannot and will never represent the voice of the people,” he said.
The ADC candidate also called for the end to the “culture of electoral corruption” if Nigeria truly desired a prosperous and just society.
Nwosu said the “conscience of our democracy had been wounded” and warned that when votes are bought, the future is sold.
“What we witnessed was not the expression of choice, but the glaring triumph of desperation and greed over the principles of justice and fairness,” he said.
The politician also expressed gratitude to members of his party and campaign team for standing firm in the face of “intimidation and inducement”.
