•Anambra State Governor Soludo receives Vice President Kashim Shettima, former President Olusegun Obasanjo at the Chinua Achebe International Airport in Umueri, today
Several dignitaries, including Vice President Kashim Shettima, today arrived for the second term inauguration of the re-elected Anambra State Governor, Professor Charles Soludo, holding at the newly renovated Alex Ekwueme Square.
Soludo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance was elected for a second term in the November 8, 2025 off-cycle governorship poll in the state, reports Channels TV.
Others, including former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan, former Commonwealth Secretary-General Emeka Anyaoku, governors, traditional rulers from the 179 communities in the state, as well as monarchs from other parts of Nigeria, are also expected at the occasion.
His party, APGA, has also mobilised members from all 326 political wards for the inauguration.
As of the time of filing this report, security has been tightened across the state, with personnel from the police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Federal Road Safety Corps, and other agencies deployed to strategic locations.
The governor and his deputy had marked the end of their first tenure on Sunday with an interdenominational thanksgiving service at the International Convention Centre.
During the service, Soludo thanked the people of the state for giving him a second term mandate, promising not to disappoint them.
The economist-turned politician also recalled his experience during his early years in politics, saying that he had to beg his wife, Nonye Soludo, and children before they permitted him to begin a political career.
He recalled a solemn promise to his family members, where he vowed not to abandon the qualities that defined him.
“My wife doesn’t like politics, the kind of things that all politicians do. To convince her to let me go (was hard),” he said.
“Before we came on this journey, whenever politicians came to the house, she would just give you whatever you needed, leave you quietly, and go away.
“Well, I pleaded with them and made a solemn promise to her and my children that I will remain authentic, I will remain who they’ve always known, instead of disappointing, I will be ready to resign.
“So far, I am happy that you guys believe and are convinced that I have not disappointed you. I want to promise today that I won’t disappoint you,” he said.
The governor appreciated the people of Anambra State for the confidence reposed in his administration, promising to deliver the dividends of democracy to them.
Soludo promised not to disappoint them, recalling how they secured over 70 per cent of the votes in the last governorship poll.
Anambra people donated to his campaign, according to him, although he did not specify the exact amount of money donated.
“The assessment was just done a few months ago, barely three years in office. It was you, Ndi’ Anambra, who began to say that Anambra was on the rise.
“It is you who, at the last governorship election, did something that has never been done in the history of this country, where the people organized rallies by themselves, went everywhere campaigning for the candidates, and also donated money.
“I don’t want to tell you the billions the communities donated. When the election came, the people returned us with a near unanimous vote, 73 per cent,” he added.
