(DDM) – Donald Chidi Amamgbo, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate in the Anambra South Senatorial by-election, has alleged collusion between Governor Chukwuma Soludo and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) gathered that Amamgbo accused both parties of conspiring to disenfranchise voters and compromise democratic principles during the poll.
INEC declared Emma Nwachukwu of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) the winner, while Amamgbo finished a distant third.
In an exclusive interview, Amamgbo described the election as a “dangerous pattern of systemic sabotage, desecration of all democratic norms, collusion, and deliberate disenfranchisement.”
He warned that such electoral practices threaten the very foundation of Nigeria’s democracy.
Amamgbo alleged that INEC deliberately withheld accreditation tags for his party’s ward and local government collation agents on the eve of the poll.
He argued that this crippled ADC’s ability to monitor results and protect supporters’ votes during critical stages of collation.
The candidate further referenced a statement attributed to Governor Soludo, describing ADC and Labour Party as “dead in Anambra,” calling it evidence of political bias.
“In Ihiala, INEC circulated a doctored list of polling agents that did not match the authentic list duly submitted and uploaded by our party,” Amamgbo alleged.
“These are not mistakes. They are acts of sabotage,” he stated.
He accused the APGA-led government of normalizing vote-buying and exploiting economic hardship to sway voters.
The candidate insisted that the election produced a senator who would act as a “puppet” under Soludo’s influence, rather than serving the people independently.
Amamgbo called for a comprehensive review of the electoral process in Anambra South and reforms to strengthen INEC’s independence, transparency, and accountability.
He urged the public not to accept the outcome as “one of those things” but to demand justice and democratic integrity.
COPDEM fires back, demands urgent electoral review
The Coalition for the Protection of Democracy (COPDEM) has condemned the allegations of electoral malpractice, describing them as a grave indictment of Nigeria’s democratic system.
COPDEM, in a statement to DDM, demanded an immediate independent review of the election.
The group urged INEC to investigate claims of collusion and take decisive action to restore public confidence in future polls.
Political observers believe the controversy may spark a legal battle if Amamgbo decides to challenge the results in court.