The African Democratic Congress (ADC) governorship candidate, John Nwosu, has rejected the outcome of Saturday’s Anambra governorship election. He called the process a “ruse and total subversion of the people’s will.”

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Governor Chukwuma Soludo as the winner. Soludo, from the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), secured 422,664 votes on Sunday. Nicholas Ukachukwu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) came second with 99,445 votes. Nwosu placed fifth, polling 8,208 votes.

In a statement issued after the election, Nwosu alleged widespread vote buying. He claimed this practice marred the entire electoral exercise.

“Voters were openly induced with cash,” Nwosu stated. He reported sums “ranging from ₦3,000 to ₦20,000 in almost every polling unit.” He added that this transformed the process “into a marketplace rather than a democratic exercise.”

He labelled the situation “a national embarrassment.” Nwosu called it “a direct assault on the integrity of our democracy.” He concluded, “It was a win bought with cash, and a loss for democracy.”

Nwosu stressed that “true victory is judged not by the outcome.” Instead, he said, it is determined “by the integrity of the process.”

“An election riddled with corruption, manipulation, and vote trading,” he maintained, “cannot and will never represent the voice of the people.”

The ADC candidate urged an end to the “culture of electoral corruption.” This, he argued, is essential “if Nigeria truly desired a prosperous and just society.”

Nwosu declared that “the conscience of our democracy had been wounded.” He issued a strong warning: “When votes are bought, the future is sold.”

“What we witnessed,” he asserted, “was not the expression of choice.” He called it “the glaring triumph of desperation and greed over the principles of justice and fairness.”

Finally, the politician thanked his party members and campaign team. He praised their steadfastness “in the face of intimidation and inducement.”