By Tony Ezike
Jubilation swept through the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Anambra Central on Friday September 4th, as Senator Uche Ekwunife, CON, formally declared her intention to contest the 2027 Anambra Central Senatorial election.
Hundreds of APC executive members from wards, local government areas, the senatorial zone and the state leadership converged at the Senator Uche Ekwunife Event Centre, Awka, to witness the declaration.
Addressing the party executives, Ekwunife said the gathering marked the first formal step in her bid, adding that she would subsequently engage party stakeholders and other critical segments of society.
“I want to officially inform you that I’m running for Senate before I call the party stakeholders and other members of society. We’re going into the race for free, fair and credible election, and we are ready for victory,” she said.
Ekwunife said the APC’s strength at the national level made the party a formidable force, insisting that its candidates would campaign for all elective positions.
“A party that has 31 state governors and the highest number of public office holders cannot be intimidated or won by wishful thinking,” she declared. She said the APC was constitutionally entitled to field candidates across all levels, stressing that what mattered ultimately was presenting candidates with demonstrable capacity and records of achievement.
The APC Zonal Chairman for Anambra Central, Chief Augustine Muomife, described Ekwunife as the “pillar” of the party in the zone. Muomife said her record of projects, representation and political engagement had positioned her ahead of other contenders, expressing confidence that she would prevail in a free and fair election. He urged party members to rally behind her, saying her return to the Senate would usher Anambra Central into “its glorious days” once again.
The APC State Women Leader, Hon. Ify Okonkwo, called on women leaders across the state to take ownership of the campaign and mobilise aggressively for victory. Okonkwo recalled that she had previously admired Ekwunife’s political structure from a distance before becoming a member of the party’s leadership.
She urged the women leaders to see themselves as candidates because they would be the ones benefiting from democracy dividends, adding that their collective mobilisation would be crucial to the party’s success.
Speaking with journalists after the meeting, Ekwunife challenged voters in Anambra Central to compare the records of all the candidates seeking the senatorial seat and choose the one with the strongest record of performance. She noted that many of the aspirants had previously occupied public offices in one capacity or another, making their records available for scrutiny.
According to her, the electorate should focus on capacity, competence, experience and verifiable achievements rather than sentiments. “My achievements in both the House of Representatives and the Senate are enough testament to what I can do given another opportunity,” she said.
“I am a ranking Senator. I will have more opportunities to sponsor quality Bills and Motions, as well as attract more meaningful projects to our Senatorial District.” Ekwunife also said she would leverage legislative experience to contribute to national development through impactful ideas and collaboration with relevant government institutions.
The widely celebrated federal lawmaker argued that voters seeking effective representation should consider four critical factors; legislative ranking, capacity, record of achievement and party affiliation. “There are things you cannot ignore in choosing a candidate for the National Assembly if you really want to see remarkable changes that you can call effective representation,” she said.
“You must consider ranking, which is rated by total tenure of legislative service, capacity, excellent record of achievements and party affiliation. I’m the only candidate who possesses all four among other contestants, so I will build on these values to deliver beyond expectations.”
She expressed confidence in victory, saying the people of Anambra Central would ultimately choose competence over sentiment. “I know that I will win because the people of Anambra Central would like to vote capacity, competency, someone they have tested in all spheres and trusted,” she said.
Ekwunife further cautioned voters against candidates who, according to her, make ambitious promises without the requisite experience or capacity to deliver them. “You can’t give what you don’t have,” she said, arguing that effective representation requires commitment, purposeful leadership and the willingness to go the extra mile for the people.
She maintained that her previous mandates provided a verifiable benchmark for voters to assess her capacity, insisting that her record would speak for itself as the 2027 contest gathers momentum.
