Dare Babalola
Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State on Thursday paid a courtesy visit to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the State House, Abuja, to thank the president for his warm congratulations on his recent governorship election victory.
In a statement issued on Friday, Soludo described the reception as warm and characteristic of their over 22-year friendship, saying President Tinubu personally congratulated him on the “resounding mandate” given by Anambra voters.
Soludo highlighted his appreciation for Tinubu’s immediate congratulatory message on the election day and ongoing support for Anambra State’s development.
Emphasising national unity, he stated, “We are one Nigeria, and together – with God on our side – we will build the Anambra and the Nigeria of our dreams.”
The President had earlier lauded the victory as a testament to the trust Ndi Anambra have in their shared vision for a “livable and prosperous homeland”.
Soludo contested under the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and won other candidates including the president’s party, the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The incumbent was declared the winner of the election by the Returning Officer of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Edoba Omoregie.
Soludo, who polled a total of 422,664 votes, defeated his closest rival, the candidate of the APC, Nicholas Ukachukwu, who scored 99,445 votes, while the candidate of the Young Progressives Party, Sir Paul Chukwuma, came third with 37,753 votes.
According to INEC, a total of 16 candidates from various political parties participated in the election.
