Anambra State‘s governorship election on Saturday, November 8, 2025, was marred by allegations of vote-buying after political agents allegedly distributed Gala sausages, malt drinks, and cash at polling units across the state.
The practice quickly caused widespread criticism on social media, with many Nigerians expressing frustration over what they see as politicians exploiting poverty to manipulate voters.
“Gala and malt today, four years of suffering tomorrow,” one comment read.
Eyewitnesses said voters received refreshments while queuing, with some agents reportedly checking voter cards before handing out the snacks.
The election saw 16 candidates competing for the governorship seat across 5,720 polling units.
Incumbent Governor Charles Soludo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) is fighting to retain his position against Nicholas Ukachukwu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and other challengers.
While voting materials arrived early in many areas, technical problems with the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) caused significant delays, particularly in communities like Ekwulummiri where voters complained about repeated device failures.
Voter turnout appeared lower than in previous elections, with observers pointing to increasing apathy and disillusionment with governance.
Security forces maintained a heavy presence across major towns, and vehicle movement was restricted to maintain order.
After voting, Governor Soludo expressed confidence in winning but accused opposition parties of planning to manipulate results.
His main challenger, Nicholas Ukachukwu, made counter-allegations of rigging and called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure transparent result collation.
Labour Party presidential candidate and former governor Peter Obi also cast his vote in his hometown.
As of late afternoon, voting and counting continued across the state. INEC is expected to announce official results once the collation is complete.
