APC Women Leader Ajih Backs Ekwunife, Hails Senate Experience, Grassroots Impact
The All Progressives Congress (APC) South-East Zonal Women Leader, Hon. Dr. Oby Ajih, has described Senator Uche Ekwunife, CON, FCNA, as a strong candidate capable of providing effective representation for Anambra Central Senatorial District in the 2027 elections.
Ajih made the remarks at a high-level stakeholders’ meeting convened by Ekwunife in Awka, the Anambra State capital, according to a statement issued by SUE Media on Saturday.
She said Ekwunife’s extensive legislative experience, political relationships, knowledge of the workings of the National Assembly and record of constituency engagement positioned her to effectively represent the interests of the people of Anambra Central and attract development to the district.
Ekwunife, who is the APC senatorial candidate for Anambra Central in the 2027 election, previously served in the Senate and has also been associated with constituency interventions targeting empowerment, poverty alleviation and skills development. Publicly available records of constituency projects linked to her representation of Anambra Central include youth training on the maintenance of solar streetlights and solar-powered boreholes, empowerment initiatives for artisans, provision of vehicles for youth and women empowerment, as well as poverty-alleviation interventions.
Ajih said the combination of Ekwunife’s legislative background, grassroots engagement and political networks would be valuable in advancing the interests of the senatorial district.
“If Senator Uche Ekwunife was the incumbent Senator, the people would be effectively engaged, empowered and things done differently in the interest of the people,” Ajih said.
She described Ekwunife as an illustrious daughter of Anambra and urged stakeholders to support what she described as effective and purposeful representation of the senatorial district.
The APC South-East zonal women leader also highlighted the importance of legislative experience in securing meaningful interventions for constituents, noting that effective representation requires an understanding of parliamentary procedures, government agencies and the relationships necessary to facilitate development projects.
At the meeting, Ekwunife expressed delight at the convergence of party stakeholders and said the gathering demonstrated members’ commitment to strengthening the APC and advancing development in the South-East.
She said developments being recorded under the Federal Government provided grounds for the party to present its record and programmes to voters ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Ekwunife cited the Federal Government’s student-loan programme administered through the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) as one of the initiatives she said could expand access to higher education.
She also referred to the allocation of recovered funds to the student-loan scheme. In September 2026, EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede said the Federal Government had allocated N100 billion from funds recovered by the commission to NELFUND since 2024.
On infrastructure, Ekwunife referenced the work of the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, particularly ongoing road and bridge interventions in the South-East and projects connected to the Niger Bridge corridor.
The Federal Ministry of Works has confirmed that rehabilitation work is ongoing on the approach roads to the Second Niger Bridge, while major rehabilitation of the First Niger Bridge and the road linking Summit Junction to the bridge is also underway.
Recent reports also indicated that the Federal Government had continued rehabilitation works on the First Niger Bridge, including measures aimed at improving its infrastructure and security.
Ekwunife further stressed the importance of experience, legislative knowledge and political networks in effective representation, arguing that lawmakers require sufficient exposure to the workings of government and the legislature to navigate the complexities of the National Assembly and pursue development interventions for their constituents.
She said her experience in the Senate and familiarity with the legislative process would place her in a position to engage relevant institutions and advocate for projects and programmes capable of addressing the needs of Anambra Central.
The stakeholders’ meeting was attended by APC leaders, local government and ward officials and other party stakeholders from Anambra Central. Recent reports on the meeting said party stakeholders endorsed Ekwunife as the APC’s candidate for the senatorial district and discussed strategies ahead of the 2027 election.
