The All Progressives Congress (APC) has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Nigeria Police Force to investigate Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State, South-East Nigeria, following his recent pledge of financial rewards to wards that deliver electoral victory for the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in the state’s upcoming governorship election.
The APC’s National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Bashiru, made the appeal in an interview, accusing Governor Soludo of engaging in voter inducement rather than campaigning on the basis of performance.
Soludo, who is also the APGA candidate seeking re-election, reportedly made the controversial promise during a campaign rally in Umunze, Orumba South Local Government Area on October 25, 2025.
Addressing supporters, Soludo had said, “Any ward that APGA wins will receive one million naira. The ward that comes first will get five million naira, the second three million, and the third two million. For November 8, any ward that wins again will receive one million naira, while the top three performing wards will get five million, two million, and one million respectively.”
Senator Bashiru, however, condemned the governor’s remarks, describing them as “a reflection of desperation and lack of confidence.”
According to him, “If he has been in office for over three years and cannot campaign based on his performance and impact on the people, it shows that he is challenged and needs to be voted out.”
He further stated that the governor’s comments undermined electoral integrity, urging INEC to issue a public warning and the police to probe APGA’s campaign finances for compliance with electoral laws.
Okay News reports that the controversy has stirred widespread debate in Anambra State, with many residents expressing mixed reactions over whether Soludo’s comments amounted to vote-buying or simple campaign motivation.
Responding to the APC’s accusation, the Anambra State Commissioner for Information, Dr. Law Mefor, dismissed the claims, describing the opposition as “a pathetic and nonexistent party in the state.”
“The APC in Anambra State is a pathetic opposition. It does not exist — no councillor, no local government chairman, no member in the House of Assembly or National Assembly,” Mefor said in a telephone interview.
He insisted that Soludo’s remarks were not aimed at influencing votes but at encouraging higher voter participation, noting that voter turnout had historically been low in Anambra elections.
“Governor Soludo has not offered any reward to those who would vote for him, but to all registered voters generally, regardless of party affiliation. His concern is that only about 200,000 out of 2.7 million registered voters participated in the last election,” Mefor added.
He also highlighted that Soludo’s performance had inspired broad community support, with several towns voluntarily contributing funds toward his re-election campaign.
“Soludo doesn’t need to pay anyone to vote for him. People are eager to return him because of his performance,” he said.
The Anambra governorship election is scheduled for November 8, 2025, with APGA, APC, and the Labour Party as the major contenders.
