Uche Ekwunife
Senator Uche Ekwunife
DG. Southeast Governors' Forum, Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria from Anambra Central Senatorial District
Assumed office
June 2015
Preceded byVictor Umeh
Member of the Nigerian House of Representatives from Anambra
In office
June 2007 – June 2015
ConstituencyAnaocha/Njikoka/Dunukofia
Personal details
Born
Uche Lilian Ogudebe

(1970-12-12) 12 December 1970 (age 53)
Igbo-Ukwu, Anambra, Nigeria
Political partyPeople's Democratic Party (PDP)
SpouseLarry Ekwunife
Alma materUniversity of Calabar (BSc)
Nnamdi Azikiwe University (MBA)
Websitehttps://senucheekwunife.com

Uche Lilian Ekwunife// ⓘ née Ogudebe born 12 January 1970), is a Nigerian politician, DG Southeast Governors' Forum and Fmr. Senator representing the people of Anambra Central Senatorial District of Anambra State and she is known as one of the most active female senators in the House.[1]

Early life and education

Ekwunife was born on December 12, 1970, in Igbo-Ukwu, Anambra to Emmanuel and Lucy Ogudebe. Ekwunife attended University of Calabar and graduated with a bachelor's degree in Business and Accounting in 1993. She went on to earn her MBA degree from Nnamdi Azikiwe University in 2002.[2]

Ekwunife had a banking career where she became an area manager. She married a businessperson from Nri[3][circular reference] community Anaocha LGA. She and Chief Larry Ekwunife have children.[4]

Political career

Ekwunife stood for Anambra governorship election twice unsuccessfully.[5] She was elected as a representative in 2007 for Anambra's Anaocha/Njikoka/Dunukofia constituency. She was one of 11 women elected in 2007 who were re-elected in 2011 when the lower house was nearly 95% male. Other women elected included Juliet Akano, Mulikat Adeola-Akande, Abike Dabiri, Nkiru Onyeagocha, Nnena Elendu-Ukeje, Olajumoke Okoya-Thomas, Beni Lar, Khadija Bukar Abba-Ibrahim, Elizabeth Ogbaga and Peace Uzoamaka Nnaji.[6]

In 2015, she was elected to the Nigerian Senate. She was one of the six women elected to the 8th National Assembly. The other women were Rose Okoji Oko, Stella Oduah, Fatimat Raji Rasaki, Oluremi Tinubu and Binta Garba.[7] Ekwunife had won the 2015 election by switching from one political party to the other. Because of this her election was challenged and in December 2015 her seat was declared vacant. Ekwunife was unable to get the support of former political party (The All Progressives Grand Alliance) for the bye-election and as a result Victor Umeh was elected as Senator.

.[8]

She won the 2019 Anambra State senatorial elections under the platform of the People's Democratic Party representing Anambra central Senatorial District, Nigeria.[9][10] defeating her 2015 rival Victor Umeh who sought reelection

References

  1. ^ "Anambra Governorship poll: PDP appoints Ekwunife as Campaign D-G". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. 2021-08-09. Retrieved 2022-02-21.
  2. ^ "Ekwunife Senator Uche Lilian". Biography Legacy for Research Foundation. 23 August 2017.
  3. ^ "Kingdom of Nri". About Nri Kingdom.
  4. ^ "About Uche Ekwunife - NASS". National Assembly of Nigeria.
  5. ^ "The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)". INEC WEBSITE.
  6. ^ "Women who will shape Seventh National Assembly". Vanguard News. 2011-06-06. Retrieved 2020-05-03.
  7. ^ The 6 female senators in 8th National Assembly, Naij,com, Retrieved 15 February 2016
  8. ^ APC panel disqualifies “fair-weather” Ekwunife from contesting Senate rerun on party's platform, 21 January 2016, Festus Owete, Retrieved 15 February 2016
  9. ^ Ekwunife, Uche (February 28, 2019). "Finally,INEC Declares Ekwunife winner of Anambra central senatorial Election". This Day.
  10. ^ Ekwunife, Uche (November 9, 2018). "Nigeria Tribune".
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