Following his overwhelming success in Saturday’s election, Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo has declared that the manner of his victory means that elections are getting better in the country.
He alluded to the peaceful and credible poll, his massive win and the improved turnout as evidence of the improvement in the electoral process and the outcome.
He described President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as a true democrat for providing a level playing field in the contest.
He dedicated himself to service delivery, saying he would move from gear three to four in his second term performance.
Soludo spoke in his hometown Isuofia, Aguata Local Government Area, shortly after he was declared the winner by the Returning Officer (RO) and Vice Chancellor of the University of Benin, Prof Edoba Omoregie.
He won in 320 out of the 326 electoral wards in the state, scoring 72 per cent and amassing 422,662 votes.
Soludo said: “This is a moment to say congratulations to the Anambra People. Four years ago, we were elected with 112,000 votes, but this time you spoke loudly with your votes. This is a show of solidarity and a very emphatic statement.
“Out of 326 wards, we lost only six wards, and we won the entire 21 local governments, and that is a very emphatic statement.
“We are in partnership with people at all levels in the state, and we are matching on to gear four. We are in gear three as it were, and we are moving to gear four. Thanks to the Anambra people for renewing our employment.
“We thank Mr President, he has proven to be a very good democrat. I thank the new INEC chairman (Joash Amupitan).
“It was his first outing, and as the saying goes, you don’t get a second chance to make a first impression, and you have proven that with this election. Every election year is getting better and better in Anambra.
“Except for a few cases, I think the election was very fair and credible. I thank the ICT (Information Communication Technology) section of INEC, as of Saturday night, they had uploaded up to 99 per cent of the results, and we already knew where the election was going.
“To my brothers (other contestants), I say, we were 16, and obviously, only one person will win.
“We have had fun, we have fought, but we will still meet at functions at weekends and share drinks the Anambra way.
“I extend a hand of fellowship to you, and we will work together to make Anambra better.
“For me, we will work for the Anambra people, and no minute is lost. Ours is an assignment with a deadline.”
Soludo expressed regret that, despite the heavy security witnessed during the election, some miscreants killed an APGA councillor in Owerre-Ezukala, Orumba South Local Government Area.
