The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially presented the certificate of return to Chief Emmanuel Nwachukwu of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), confirming his victory in the Anambra South senatorial district by-election held on Saturday, 16 August, 2025.
Chief Nwachukwu secured a commanding victory with 90,408 votes, decisively defeating his closest opponent, Chief Azuka Okwuosa of the All Progr
essives Congress (APC), who received 19,812 votes. Donald Amamgbo of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) finished in third place.
The contest arose following the death of Senator Ifeanyi Ubah, who represented the constituency until his passing on 27 July, 2024. Ubah had won re-election in 2023 under the Young Progressive Party (YPP) platform but later defected to APC before his death, leaving the strategic Senate seat vacant and necessitating Saturday’s electoral contest.
INEC confirmed that 12 political parties competed for the senatorial seat, though some reports indicated approximately 16 parties participated in what proved to be a closely watched race. The election drew significant attention as parties vied to represent one of Anambra State’s three senatorial districts, with the Anambra South constituency covering 1,320 of the state’s 4,887 square kilometres and encompassing several local government areas including Ihiala, where Nwachukwu’s candidacy received strong grassroots support.
Despite Nwachukwu’s overwhelming margin of victory, the by-election was not without challenges. There were allegations of vote buying, late arrival of materials, and incidents of violence at some polling units across the Anambra South senatorial zone. Nevertheless, INEC successfully conducted the election and declared results on Sunday at its office in Nnewi North Local Government headquarters.
As always with elections in Nigeria, losers always have allegations. ADC candidate Barrister Amamgbo alleged rigging and described the vote as part of a “dangerous pattern of systemic sabotage”, naming Governor Charles Soludo and INEC as co-conspirators in the electoral process.
Nwachukwu’s triumph further reinforces APGA’s political dominance in Anambra State, where the party has maintained a strong presence for years. The victory was part of a broader success for APGA, whose candidate also won the concurrent by-election for the Onitsha North Constituency of the state House of Assembly, demonstrating the party’s continued appeal to Anambra voters.
With his certificate of return now officially presented, Chief Emmanuel Nwachukwu is expected to be sworn in as the substantive representative of Anambra South senatorial district in the Nigerian Senate. His commanding victory margin of over 70,000 votes demonstrates significant public support despite the controversies surrounding the electoral process.
The successful completion of this by-election brings to a close period of uncertainty for Anambra South constituents, who had been without senatorial representation since Senator Ubah’s death eleven months ago. Nwachukwu’s tenure will run through the remainder of the current Senate session, as he takes on the responsibility of representing the interests of his constituency in the National Assembly.
