Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State has stirred controversy after announcing a ₦1 million cash reward for every ward his party wins in the upcoming 2025 governorship election.
While speaking on Saturday during the party’s campaign rally in Umunze, Orumba South Local Government Area, Soludo promised to give his party supporters N1m.
During his speech, he said:
“For November 8, any ward that wins again will receive N1m, while the first three performing wards will get N5m, N2m and N1m respectively.”
The pledge, made on behalf of the ruling All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), has raised concerns over vote-buying and electoral ethics.
Opposition parties, led by the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and its candidate John Nwosu, condemned the move.
Nwosu described the pledge as a sign of lost public confidence in Soludo’s leadership and a reliance on questionable political tactics. He added that the people of Anambra have expressed their disapproval of the current administration, reinforcing calls for change.
In response, APGA defended the pledge, arguing it is part of a legitimate strategy to mobilize voters and ensure electoral victory. Meanwhile, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has yet to comment on the legality of the cash incentive.
As the November 8, 2025, governorship election approaches, this pledge has intensified political debates in Anambra State. Observers are monitoring the situation closely to assess its potential impact on voter behavior and the integrity of the election.
The incident underscores ongoing concerns about the fine line between campaign incentives and electoral malpractice in Nigerian politics.
Watch video below…
Ahead of the November 8th election, Soludo has clearly lost the confidence of the people of Anambra, and it shows.
Only a sitting governor who has run out of public goodwill would so openly resort to cash for votes, in direct violation of Sections 121 and 127 of the Electoral… pic.twitter.com/TyGRDlol1x
— Bolaji Abdullahi (@BolajiADC) October 26, 2025
