Tension erupted in Anambra State on Sunday, November 9, 2025, following the emergence of a viral video showing police officers attached to Governor Charles Soludo firing gunshots into the air moments after his electoral victory was officially declared.
Soludo's Landslide Victory Across Anambra
Governor Charles Soludo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) secured a resounding victory in the 2025 Anambra governorship election, winning convincingly in all 21 local government areas of the state. According to official results released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Soludo amassed 422,664 votes, dwarfing his closest challenger.
The State Returning Officer and Vice Chancellor of the University of Benin, Professor Omoregie Edoba, announced the results early Sunday morning, confirming Soludo's overwhelming mandate from the people of Anambra.
Opposition Candidates Trail Far Behind
The election results revealed a significant gap between Soludo and his opponents. Nicholas Ukachukwu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) managed to secure 99,445 votes, placing a distant second in the race.
Other candidates performed even weaker, with Paul Chukwuma of the Young Progressives Party (YPP) gathering 37,753 votes, George Moghalu of the Labour Party (LP) obtaining 10,576 votes, John Nwosu of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) receiving 8,208 votes, and Jude Ezenwafor of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) scoring only 1,401 votes.
Controversial Celebrations Spark Concern
Shortly after the victory declaration, social media platforms were flooded with a concerning video showing police operatives attached to Governor Soludo's security detail firing multiple rounds of ammunition into the air at his country home in Isuofia, Aguata Local Government Area.
The footage captured security personnel appearing to jubilate while discharging their firearms in what seemed to be a spontaneous celebration of the governor's electoral success. This display of weapon discharge by law enforcement officers immediately sparked mixed reactions and heightened tension among residents across the state.
As of Sunday evening, the Anambra State Police Command had not issued any official statement regarding the incident, leaving many questions unanswered about the propriety of armed police officers engaging in such celebratory gunfire.
The incident has raised concerns about professional conduct among security personnel during politically charged periods and has become a talking point among political observers and residents alike, casting a shadow over what would otherwise have been a clear electoral victory for the incumbent governor.
