A former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Professor Charles Soludo, has been reacting to his victory in the Anambra State governorship election.

Soludo, who was the apex bank governor between 2004 and 2009, was declared winner after a supplementary election was held in Ihiala Local Government Area of the state on Tuesday. He won 19 of the 21 local governments areas including Ihiala LGA.

Sixty one-year-old Soludo won with 112,229 votes beating Valentine Ozigbo of the Peoples Democratic Party, who polled 53,807 votes, and Andy Uba of the All Progressives Congress who got 43,285 votes. Ifeanyi Ubah of the Young Progressive Party who polled 21,261 votes came fourth.

Giving his acceptance speech shortly after he was declared the winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the governor-elect described his victory as the will of God.

He thanked his wife and children for encouraging him despite their initial reservations, saying his victory in the election was a result of his perseverance in the past 12 years.

During his acceptance speech, Soludo said, “Let me say with utmost humility and gratitude to God, I accept the results of the 2021 Anambra Governorship Election as declared by INEC. And this reflects the supreme will of the Almighty God and an overwhelming sacred mandate of the people…This is a divine journey whose time has come.”