Foreign Observer Group Discredits Anambra Governorship Election, Alleges Massive Vote-Buying by APGA

By Tony Okafor, Awka

A foreign election observer mission, Pan African Women Project (PAWP), has discredited the conduct of the November 8 Anambra State governorship election, alleging that the exercise was marred by extensive vote-buying allegedly perpetrated by the ruling party, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

The South Africa–based observer group, which monitored the election across the 21 local government areas of the state, stated this during a post-election press briefing in Awka, the Anambra State capital.

Addressing journalists, the group’s spokesperson, Ms. Bontle Matjila, said the outcome of the election “would have been obviously different” if vote-buying had not been widespread across polling units.

“This election recorded unbelievable vote-buying across several polling units,” Matjila stated,“The transaction was likened to the buying and selling activities we experienced at Nkwo Nnewi markets when we went for sensitization of market women to collect their PVCs and build confidence on the 24th of October, 2025.”

She said her team captured APGA vote-buying activities on spy cameras during the exercise, insisting that such practices undermined the integrity and transparency of the poll.

The observer group also criticized aspects of the electoral process, particularly the late arrival of election materials in several polling units, and the failure of officials to display sensitive materials to party agents at the commencement of voting.

“From our field observers, it was discovered that some polling units did not display result sheets and other sensitive materials to the party agents,” Matjila added, stressing, “This and many other irregularities make the election fall short of international best practices.”

Despite commending the police and other security agencies for maintaining order before, during, and after the election, the organization maintained that the exercise could not be described as free and fair given the scale of inducement and irregularities observed.

The Pan African Women Project further lamented poor voter turnout, noting that several polling units recorded low participation compared to the number of registered voters.

On the overall political environment, the group said the election atmosphere was largely calm, with normal business activities ongoing even on Election Day.

“We even saw women selling in markets along Atani Road in Ogbaru Local Government Area while the election was still ongoing,” the report noted.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had earlier declared Professor Chukwuma Soludo of APGA winner of the election with 422,664 votes, defeating his closest rival, Nicholas Ukachukwu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who polled 99,445 votes. Paul Chukwuma of the Young Progressive Party (YPP) came third with 37,753 votes.

The group, however, expressed appreciation to INEC for accrediting its members and providing collaboration platforms during pre-election sensitization programmes, especially those organized with the commission’s Gender and Inclusivity Department.

It concluded by pledging to submit a detailed post-election report with accompanying video evidence to INEC for further review.

“Our detailed report, with footages, will be submitted to the electoral body soon,” the statement added.

The Pan African Women Project is an international non-governmental observer group headquartered in South Africa, with a focus on women’s participation and inclusivity in democratic governance across the African continent.