Uche Ekwunife

Uche Ekwunife
Senator Uche Ekwunife

Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria from Anambra Central Senatorial District
Incumbent
Assumed office June 2015
Preceded by
Member of the Nigerian House of Representatives from Anambra
In office June 2007 – June 2015
Constituency	Anaocha/Njikoka/Dunukofia

Personal details
Born	Uche Lilian Ogudebe (1970-12-12) 12 December 1970 (age 51) Igbo-Ukwu, Anambra, Nigeria
Political party	People's Democratic Party (PDP)
Spouse(s)	Larry Ekwunife
Alma mater	University of Calabar (BSc) Nnamdi Azikiwe University (MBA)
Website	https://senucheekwunife.com

Uche Lilian Ekwunife (née Ogudebe born 12 January 1970), is a Nigerian politician, and member of the 9th Nigerian Senate 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.

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.^[1]

Ekwunife had a career in banking where she rose to be an area manager. She married a businessperson from Nri^[2]^{[circular reference]} community Anaocha LGA. She and Chief Larry Ekwunife have children.^[3]

Political career[]

Ekwunife stood for Anambra governorship election twice unsuccessfully.^[4] 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, , Nnena Elendu-Ukeje, Olajumoke Okoya-Thomas, Beni Lar, Khadija Bukar Abba-Ibrahim, Elizabeth Ogbaga and Peace Uzoamaka Nnaji.^[5]

In 2015, she was elected to the Nigerian Senate. She was one of the six women elected to the . The other women were Rose Okoji Oko, Stella Oduah, Fatimat Raji Rasaki, Oluremi Tinubu and Binta Garba.^[6] 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 her former political party to back her for the bi-election for her former seat.^[7]

She won the 2019 senatorial elections representing Anambra central Senatorial District, Nigeria.^[8]^[9] She contested for the same elections in the 2015 senatorial elections Nigeria, but lost to Senator Victor Umeh.

References[]

^ "Ekwunife Senator Uche Lilian". Biography Legacy for Research Foundation.
^ "Kingdom of Nri". About Nri Kingdom.
^ "About Uche Ekwunife - NASS". National Assembly of Nigeria.
^ "The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)". INEC WEBSITE.
^ "Women who will shape Seventh National Assembly". Vanguard News (in American English). 2011-06-06. Retrieved 2020-05-03.
^ The 6 female senators in 8th National Assembly, Naij,com, Retrieved 15 February 2016
^ APC panel disqualifies “fair-weather” Ekwunife from contesting Senate rerun on party's platform, 21 January 2016, Festus Owete, Retrieved 15 February 2016
^ Ekwunife, Uche (February 28, 2019). "Finally,INEC Declares Ekwunife winner of Anambra central senatorial Election". This Day.
^ Ekwunife, Uche (November 9, 2018). "Nigeria Tribune".

Members of the Senate of Nigeria in the 8th National Assembly (2015-2019)

Abia	S: Enyinnaya Abaribe (PDP) C: Theodore Orji (PDP) N: Mao Ohuabunwa (PDP)
Abuja	FCT: Philips Tanimu Aduda (PDP)
Adamawa	S: Ahmad Abubakar (APC) C: Abdul-Aziz Nyako (ADC) N: Binta Garba (APC)
Akwa Ibom	NW: Bassey Albert (PDP) NE: Godswill Akpabio (PDP) S: Nelson Effiong (PDP)
Anambra	C: Uche Ekwunife (PDP) S: Emmanuel Nnamdi Uba (PDP) N: Stella Oduah-Ogiemwonyi (PDP)
Bauchi	C: (PDP) N: Suleiman Nazif (PDP) S: Malam Wakili (APC) – 2015–2018 Lawal Yahaya Gumau (APC) – 2018–Present
Bayelsa	W: (PDP) E: Ben Murray-Bruce (PDP) C: Emmanuel Paulker (PDP)
Benue	S: David Mark (PDP) NW: George Akume (APC) NE: Barnabas Andyar Gemade (PDP)
Borno	C: (APC) N: Abubakar Kyari (APC) S: Mohammed Ali Ndume (APC)
Cross River	S: Gershom Bassey (PDP) N: Rose Okoji Oko (PDP) C: John Enoh (PDP)
Delta	S: James Manager (PDP) N: Peter Nwaoboshi (PDP) C: Ovie Omo-Agege (APC)
Ebonyi	N: Sam Egwu (PDP) S: Sonni Ogbuoji (APC) C: Joseph Ogba (PDP)
Edo	S: Matthew Urhoghide (PDP) C: Clifford Ordia (PDP) N: Francis Alimikhena (APC)

Ekiti	C: Fatimat Olufunke Raji-Rasaki (PDP) N: (PDP) S: Abiodun Olujimi (PDP)
Enugu	N: Utazi Chukwuka (PDP) E: Gilbert Nnaji (PDP) W: Ike Ekweremadu (PDP)
Gombe	C: Mohammed Danjuma Goje (APC) N: Usman Bayero Nafada (PDP) S: Joshua M. Lidani (PDP)
Imo	E: Samuel Anyanwu (PDP) W: Hope Uzodinma (PDP) N: Benjamin Uwajumogu (APC)
Jigawa	NE: (PDP) NW: Abdullahi Abubakar Gumel (APC) SW: (APC)
Kaduna	N: Suleiman Hunkuyi (PDP) S: Danjuma Laah (PDP) C: Shehu Sani (APC)
Kano	N: Jibrin Barau (APC) S: Kabiru Ibrahim Gaya (APC) C: Rabiu Kwankwaso (PDP)
Katsina	S: Abu Ibrahim (APC) C: Kurfi Umaru (APC) N: (APC)
Kebbi	S: Bala Ibn Naallah (APC) C: (APC) N: Yahaya Abdullahi (APC)
Kogi	E: Isaac Alfa (APC) (sacked) (PDP) C: (PDP) W: Dino Melaye (PDP)
Kwara	C: Bukola Saraki (APC) N: Mohammed Shaaba Lafiagi (PDP) S: Rafiu Adebayo Ibrahim (PDP)
Lagos	E: Gbenga Bareehu Ashafa (APC) W: Solomon Olamilekan Adeola (APC) C: Oluremi Tinubu (APC)

Nasarawa	W: Abdullahi Adamu (APC) N: (PDP) S: Suleiman Asonya Adokwe (PDP)
Niger	E: David Umaru (APC) N: Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi (APC) S: Sani Mohammed (APC)
Ogun	W: (APC) C: Lanre Tejuosho (PDP) E: Buruji Kashamu (PDP)
Ondo	N: Robert Ajayi Boroffice (APC) C: (APC) S: (PDP)
Osun	W: Isiaka Adeleke (APC) – 2015–2017 Ademola Adeleke (PDP) – 2017–2019 E: Christopher Omoworare Babajide (APC) C: Olusola Adeyeye (APC)
Oyo	N: Abdulfatai Buhari (APC) S: (PDP) C: Monsurat Sunmonu (PDP)
Plateau	N: Jonah Jang (PDP) S: Jeremiah Useni (PDP) C: Joshua Dariye (PDP)
Rivers	E: George Thompson Sekibo (PDP) S: Magnus Ngei Abe (APC) W: Osinakachukwu Ideozu (PDP)
Sokoto	E: Abdullahi Ibrahim Gobir (APC) N: Aliyu Wamakko (APC) S: Ibrahim Abdullahi Danbaba (PDP)
Taraba	N: (PDP) C: Yusuf Abubakar Yusuf (APC) S: Emmanuel G. Bwacha (PDP)
Yobe	N: Ahmed Ibrahim Lawan (APC) E: Bukar Ibrahim (APC) S: (PDP)
Zamfara	W: Ahmad Rufai Sani (PDP) C: Kabir Garba Marafa (APC) N: (APC)

APC: All Progressives Congress - PDP: People's Democratic Party

Members of the Senate of Nigeria in the 9th National Assembly (2019-2023)

Abia	C: Theodore Orji (PDP) N: Orji Uzor Kalu (APC) S: Enyinnaya Abaribe (PDP)
Adamawa	C: Aishatu Dahiru Ahmed (APC) N: Ishaku Elisha Abbo (APC)^[a] S: Binos Dauda Yaroe (PDP)
Akwa Ibom	NE: Bassey Albert Akpan (PDP) NW: Chris Ekpenyong (PDP)^[b] S: Akon Eyakenyi (PDP)
Anambra	C: Uche Ekwunife (PDP) N: Stella Oduah-Ogiemwonyi (APC)^[c] S: Ifeanyi Ubah (YPP)
Bauchi	C: Halliru Dauda Jika (APC) N: Adamu Muhammad Bulkachuwa (APC) S: Lawal Yahaya Gumau (APC)
Bayelsa	C: (PDP)^[d] E: Biobarakuma Degi (APC) W: Henry Seriake Dickson (PDP)^[e]
Benue	NE: Gabriel Suswam (PDP) NW: Emmanuel Yisa Orker-Jev (PDP) S: Patrick Abba Moro (PDP)
Borno	C: Kashim Shettima (APC) N: Kyari Abubakar Shaib (APC) S: Mohammed Ali Ndume (APC)
Cross River	C: Sandy Ojang Onor (PDP) N: Agom Jarigbe (PDP)^[f] S: Gershom Bassey (PDP)
Delta	C: Ovie Omo-Agege (APC) N: Peter Nwaoboshi (APC)^[g] S: James Manager (PDP)
Ebonyi	C: Joseph Ogba (PDP) N: Sam Egwu (PDP) S: Michael Ama Nnachi (PDP)
Edo	C: Clifford Ordia (PDP) N: Francis Alimikhena (APC) S: Matthew Urhoghide (PDP)

Ekiti	C: Michael Opeyemi Bamidele (APC) N: Olubunmi Ayodeji Adetunmbi (APC) S: Abiodun Olujimi (PDP)^[h]
Enugu	E: Chimaroke Nnamani (PDP) N: Utazi Chukwuka (PDP) W: Ike Ekweremadu (PDP)
FCT	FCT: Philips Tanimu Aduda (PDP)
Gombe	C: Mohammed Danjuma Goje (APC) N: Sa'idu Ahmed Alkali (APC) S: Amos Bulus Kilawangs (APC)
Imo	E: Onyewuchi Francis Ezenwa (PDP) N: (APC)^[i] W: Rochas Okorocha (APC)^[j]
Jigawa	NE: Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia (APC) NW: Danladi Abdullahi Sankara (APC) SW: Mohammed Sabo (APC)
Kaduna	C: Uba Sani (APC) N: Suleiman Abdu Kwari (APC) S: Danjuma Laah (PDP)
Kano	C: Ibrahim Shekarau (APC) N: Barau Jibrin (APC) S: Kabiru Ibrahim Gaya (APC)
Katsina	C: Kabir Barkiya (APC) S: Bello Mandiya (APC) N: Ahmad Babba Kaita (APC)
Kebbi	C: Adamu Aliero (APC) N: Yahaya Abubakar Abdullahi (APC) S: Bala Ibn Na'Allah (APC)
Kogi	C: Yakubu Oseni (APC) E: Jibrin Isah (APC) W: Smart Adeyemi (APC)^[k]
Kwara	C: Ibrahim Yahaya Oloriegbe (APC) N: Suleiman Sadiq Umar (APC) S: Lola Ashiru (APC)
Lagos	C: Oluremi Tinubu (APC) E: Tokunbo Abiru (APC)^[l] W: Solomon Olamilekan Adeola (APC)

Nasarawa	N: Godiya Akwashiki (APC) S: Umaru Tanko Al-Makura (APC) W: Abdullahi Adamu (APC)
Niger	E: Sani Musa (APC)^[m] N: Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi (APC) S: Muhammad Bima Enagi (APC)
Ogun	C: Ibikunle Amosun (APC) E: Ramoni Olalekan Mustapha (APC) W: Odebiyi Tolulope Akinremi (APC)
Ondo	C: Akinyelure Patrick Ayo (PDP) N: Robert Ajayi Boroffice (APC) S: Nicholas Tofowomo (PDP)
Osun	C: Ajibola Basiru (APC) E: Fadahunsi Francis Adenigba (PDP) W: Adelere Adeyemi Oriolowo (APC)
Oyo	C: Teslim Folarin (APC) N: Abdulfatai Buhari (APC) S: Mohammed Kola Balogun (PDP)
Plateau	C: Hezekiah Ayuba Dimka (APC) N: Istifanus Gyang (PDP) S: Nora Daduut (APC)^[n]
Rivers	E: George Thompson Sekibo (PDP) SE: Barry Mpigi (PDP) W: Betty Apiafi (PDP)
Sokoto	E: Abdullahi Ibrahim Gobir (APC) N: Aliyu Wamakko (APC) S: Ibrahim Abdullahi Danbaba (PDP)^[o]
Taraba	C: Yusuf Abubakar Yusuf (APC) N: Shuaibu Isa Lau (PDP) S: Emmanuel Bwacha (PDP)
Yobe	E: Ibrahim Gaidam (APC) N: Ahmed Lawan (APC) S: Ibrahim Mohammed Bomai (APC)
Zamfara	C: Hassan Muhammed Gusau (APC)^[p] N: Sahabi Alhaji Yaú (APC)^[p] W: Lawali Hassan Anka (APC)^[p]

APC: All Progressives Congress - PDP: People's Democratic Party - YPP: Young Progressives Party

^ Abbo was elected as a member of the PDP but switched to the APC in November 2020.
^ The PDP's Ekpenyong was elected Senator in 2019 but a Court of Appeal partially annulled the results and called a supplementary election in the affected areas. Ekpenyong won the ensuing rerun election and was sworn-in again in January 2020.
^ Oduah was elected as a member of the PDP but switched to the APC in August 2021.
^ The PDP's Douye Diri was elected Senator in 2019 but resigned in February 2020 after winning election to become Bayelsa State Governor. Cleopas won the ensuing bye-election and took office in December 2020.
^ The PDP's Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo was elected Senator in 2019 but resigned in February 2020 after winning election to become Bayelsa State Deputy Governor. Dickson won the ensuing bye-election and took office in December 2020.
^ The PDP's Rose Okoji Oko was elected Senator in 2019 but died in March 2020. Jarigbe and fellow PDP member Stephen Odey fought in court over the ensuing by-election's PDP nomination; Odey won both initial court decisions and the by-election before taking office late in December 2020. However, Jarigbe later won several court challenges which declared him the legitimate PDP nominee and thus Senator. Jarigbe took office in September 2021.
^ Nwaoboshi was elected as a member of the PDP but switched to the APC in June 2021.
^ The APC's Adebayo Clement Adeyeye was elected Senator in 2019 but the NASS Election Petition Tribunal awarded and Court of Appeal affirmed the win to Olujimi. She took office in November 2019.
^ Due to disputes over alleged irregularities, the APC's Benjamin Uwajumogu was not sworn in until July 2019. Uwajumogu died in December 2019 leading to a bye-election. After disputes, Ibezim was awarded the bye-election victory and took office in April 2021.
^ Due to disputes over the alleged forced declaration of his election, Okorocha was not sworn in until June 14, 2019.
^ The PDP's Dino Melaye was elected Senator in 2019 but Adeyemi petitioned against the results and the NASS Election Petition Tribunal annulled the results and called a new election. Adeyemi won the ensuing rerun election and took office in December 2019.
^ The APC's Adebayo Osinowo was elected Senator in 2019 but died in June 2020. Abiru won the ensuing bye-election and took office in December 2020.
^ The APC's David Umaru was elected Senator in 2019 but the Supreme Court awarded the APC primary win to Musa making him Senator. He took office in July 2019.
^ The APC's Ignatius Datong Longjan was elected Senator in 2019 but died in February 2020. Daduut won the ensuing bye-election and took office in December 2020.
^ The APC's was elected Senator in 2019 but a Court of Appeal awarded the win to Danbaba. He took office in November 2019.
^ ^a ^b ^c Prior to inauguration, the APC's Zamfara votes were voided due to improper holding of party primaries. Thus the PDP runners-up took office. All three (Anka, Gusau, Yaú) switched to the APC in June 2021.