Anambra state of Nigeria has elected a new governor: Chukwuma Charles Soludo, a 61-year-old professor of economics who was governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria between 2004 and 2009.
The Independent National Electoral Commission declared him victorious on Wednesday, November 10, after a hard-fought election in which Soludo was the candidate of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA). Voting commenced on Saturday, November 6, but was declared “inconclusive”, because it did not take place in one LGA, Ihiala. The results for 20 others were in, and they indicated that Soludo was headed for a clear victory.
The election for Ihiala LGA was held Tuesday, Nov. 9, and Soludo still won, making him victorious in 19 out of Anambra’s 21 LGAs. By garnering more than 120,000 votes, he beat the PDP candidate Valentine Ozigbo and APC candidate Andy Uba to second and third positions respectively.
He will take the oath of office in mid-March 2022, other things being equal. Willy Obiano will hand over to Soludo after two terms of eight years. Obiano had succeeded Mr Peter Obi, now in the PDP.
Soludo first aspired to the office of governor in 2010 under the platform of the PDP. He had just completed his tenure as CBN governor. Earlier, he was economic adviser to President Olusegun Obasanjo who appointed him CBN governor on May 29, 2004. Soludo is also a member of the British Department for International Development’s International Advisory Group.
Born on July 28, 1960, Soludo hails from Isuofia in Aguata LGA. He graduated from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), with a first-class degree in 1984. He went ahead to obtain his master’s degree in 1987, and a PhD in Economics in 1989 from the same university. He graduated as the best student at each level.
He is married to Nonye Soludo, and they have six children.