In a surprising political development, former presidential candidate Peter Obi's Labour Party has suffered defeat at his own polling unit during the Anambra State governorship election held on November 8, 2025.
Polling Unit Results Show APC Victory
The Labour Party faced a significant setback at Polling Unit 019 in Umudim Akasi, Agulu, located within Anaocha Local Government Area. The All Progressives Congress candidate, Nicholas Ukachukwu, emerged victorious with 73 votes, while the Labour Party's representative, George Moghalu, secured 57 votes. The ruling All Progressives Grand Alliance candidate finished third with 38 votes.
Peter Obi had cast his ballot earlier in the day at approximately 11:50 a.m. at this same polling unit, where he serves as a registered voter. The results were officially announced around 3 p.m., revealing the unexpected outcome for Obi's party.
Obi Condemns Widespread Vote Buying
Shortly after exercising his democratic right, Peter Obi expressed deep concern about the integrity of the electoral process. He revealed that votes were being purchased for amounts ranging from ₦20,000 to ₦30,000, describing this practice as detrimental to Nigeria's democracy.
"My personal experience is that democracy is deteriorating in our country," Obi stated. "Unfortunately, those who are the victims of bad governance seem to be fuelling it. What you see is that vote buying is on the scale of ₦20,000, ₦30,000."
The former presidential candidate emphasized the long-term consequences of such practices, questioning: "If you sell your vote for ₦30,000, what is he going to be paid next month? By selling your vote, you're selling no school, no hospital, no job; you're selling away your future, and that is what is very worrisome."
Call for Journalistic Intervention and Future Political Ambitions
Obi made a direct appeal to media professionals, urging them to "cooperate to save the situation." He contrasted Nigeria's electoral challenges with neighboring West African countries where he had observed elections without similar malpractice.
Regarding his political future, Obi clarified his current position in Nigerian politics: "I'm a member of LP and I support the LP candidate, but quite frankly, everybody involved in this election, they are my brothers and my sisters. I'm not on the ballot. I have been governor 13 years ago, so I'm strictly in the Champions League of Nigerian politics; I'm contesting to be president of Nigeria."
He extended well-wishes to all candidates participating in what he termed the "1st Division" of politics, while emphasizing that whoever emerges victorious should prioritize serving the people.
Obi also commented on the performance of the Independent National Electoral Commission under its new leadership, advising the chairman to consider the legacy of his predecessors and focus on serving humanity and society during his tenure.
