In a scene charged with tension and expectation, Chukwuma Soludo, governor of Anambra State and gubernatorial candidate for the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), cast his ballot at Polling Unit 002, Ofiyi Square, Umueze, Isuofia Ward 13, in Aguata Local Government Area at 1:25 p.m. on Saturday.
(ThisDay Live)
The accreditation and voting process for Soludo was swift: he arrived, got accredited, cast his vote — and then turned his attention to a troubling phenomenon threatening the credibility of today’s election.
The Waiting Voters & A Single Device
At the same time, back at the polling centre, more than 400 voters were still lined up — straining under the logistics of the exercise. Why? Because the centre was operating with only one BVAS device (Bimodal Voter Accreditation System), creating a bottleneck that delayed accreditation and voting.
(ThisDay Live)
Soludo noted that while voting was going on “relatively peacefully,” these glitches matter: the delay caused by limited accreditation technology is a legitimate barrier to efficient, accessible voting.
Vote-Buying Alarm Bells
As the governor walked away from the voting mat, he didn’t mince words. He claimed that in parts of the state — particularly the Nnewi South Local Government Area — voters were being handed as much as ₦15,000 each to cast ballots. He added that some offers reportedly reached up to ₦100,000.
(Premium Times)
“Even if they share ₦100,000, let the people just vote and let the votes count,” Soludo said, emphasising the mantra: one man, one vote.
(ThisDay Live)
He accused unnamed political opponents of commissioning “massive vote-buying” and alleged a plot to manipulate results by “writing results already” and “swapping results during collation” of polling units via the IReV portal.
(Channels TV)
Confidence Amid Chaos
Despite these warnings, Soludo remained supremely confident. He told journalists he believed APGA would win in a landslide — if the process is respected and every vote counts. He emphasised that his team was tracking results from polling units through wards and local governments to the state level.
(Channels TV)
He also gave props to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), saying voting had begun early and was generally peaceful across the state — albeit “with some glitches” like malfunctioning BVAS machines in places such as Olumbanasa in Anambra West.
(Business Day)
Why This Matters
It’s not just about one man’s vote, or one polling unit. The integrity of this election hinges on whether these ballot boxes and machines serve democracy — or whether they’re undermined by cash, convenience, or manipulation.
When a polling centre struggles with only one accreditation device, delays become disenfranchisement. When cash changes hands in plain sight, the sanctity of voting is weakened. And when result-swapping is alleged, the very fabric of the process is threatened.
Soludo’s warning isn’t idle chatter: he’s openly naming behaviours that erode trust. Whether or not those allegations are proven, they reflect serious public concern.
The Road Ahead
- Will INEC follow up on the allegations of vote-buying and result-manipulation, especially in Nnewi South and other flagged LGAs?
- Will the bottleneck at accreditation machines be resolved, or will the delays persist and suppress turnout?
- Will the “one man, one vote” principle be protected in practice, or will the election be decided in the back room of collation centres?
Soludo’s message is bold: he believes his victory will come from the ballot box, not the wallet. Whether that holds depends on the strength of institutions, vigilance of citizens, and transparency of the process.
This isn’t just one governor voting — it’s a test of democracy in action in Anambra State.