Ekwunife’s human and social capital will give APC victory in Anambra Guber Election—Umenzekwe
As the November 8, 2025 Governorship Election in Anambra State draws nearer, a Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and grassroots mobilizer, Hon. Chief Modestus Umenzekwe (Enyimba Achina) has disclosed that Senator Uche Ekwunife, the running mate of the All Progressives Congress candidate, Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu, has the social and human capital that will attract victory to the party.
Speaking to newsmen in his office in Lagos on Thursday, June 26, 2025, the political Philosopher cum business mogul, described Senator Ekwunife as a politician gifted divinely with milk of human kindness, saying that her philanthropy in both her community, local government, state and nation spans over two decades.
Umenzekwe made it clear that Ekwunife is not only intelligent, bold and a critical thinker, she remains a strategist, an orator and a grassroots mobilizer, adding that her relationship and association with over 80 per cent of Anambra women speaks volume of whom Senator Ekwunife (Iyom) is.
Umenzekwe said Senator Ekwunife’s latest choice as the running mate of the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the forthcoming Governorship Election in Anambra State, Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu, (Ikukuoma Ndigbo) is a step in the right direction, “She is of course, a round peg in a round hole, she is a political earthquake as far as Anambra State politics is concerned, there is no way her opponents in this coming election would not be jittery this moment. Her electoral value could be seen in the margin of her victories in any elections she has taken part in, it is always landslide and November 8 Governorship Election in Anambra State won’t be an exception.”
He went further to describe Senator Uche Ekwunife as a political colossus, an enigma that rattles her political opponent’s camps
Uche Lilian Ekwunife (née Ogudebe, a Nigerian politician who was recently a Senator representing the good people of Anambra Central Senatorial District, is known as one of the most active female senators in the red chamber. She was elected into the House of Representatives 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.
She is also the Director General, Southeast Governors’ Forum.
If you like call her a political monzoon wind, or better still a political moving razor, Ekwunife is a politician who knows how to cut her onions and it is a highly strategic advantage to the APC in Anambra State as November 8, 2025, approaches, her ability to collaborate with party stakeholders is another critical advantage she has which the party must leverage on for a waiting landslide victory for the party.
With intimidating academic and career credentials, Ekwunife attended the 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. As a banker Ekwunife had a robust banking career, reaching the position of an Area Manager.
In further attesting to Senator Uche Ekwunife’s political pedigree, Umenzekwe said, “First of all, it is a thing of achievement, so to say, that she was picked as the running mate to our flagbearer, Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu, it is a right step in the right direction. Uche Ekwunife, the much I know her, is a virtuous woman, apart from being a Deputy, she has what it takes to contest even the governorship. But be that as it may, her selection and acceptance to be the running mate to the candidate of our great party is highly commendable.
“Throughout her career in life, it has been excellent performance, she is a goal-getter, and when you see her, she represents responsible womanhood, she is a responsible mother that knows when her children are complaining. Her performance in the banking industry, was a top-notch, her performance in the House of Representatives was equally a top-notch, then when she was at the Senate, she was a heroine of the 9th Assembly. She sponsored so many bills, which are too numerous to mention now, she was very vocal, and fought for the 35% affirmation of women in political positions,” Umenzekwe stated.
He also harped on the generous and philanthropic mien of the erudite politician. ‘Apart from that, Senator is a very generous woman, not that she has much but the little she has, she spreads it across Nigeria and beyond, at least I know she built houses for the downtrodden, her compassion for human evangelism, her compassion for the less privileged has attracted people to her.
“Senator Uche Ekwunife is a household name in Nigerian politics in general and Anambra State in particular. And that is why the Southeast Governors selected her as the Director General of their forum. Aside that, she is well known in her community and Igbo land. And that is why she bagged the title of Anyanwu-Nri, Ifekaolaedo, Iyom, and so on and due to her closeness to people, assistance to people, service to humanity, service to community and Nigeria. She is so passionate about the Southeast and Anambra State. She honours invitations, she doesn’t segregate, this person is high, this person is low. Rather if for any reason she will not honour your invitation, she must send a high powered delegation to represent her. She picks her calls, responds to messages and all that, and very very approachable. Above that she is well read and educated. So she is a square peg in a square hole,” Umenzekwe added.
Speaking on how the robust and intimidating resume of Ekwunife can bring victory for the party in Anambra, he said, “Her social and political capital is very enormous, and it will attract victory to APC. When the campaign starts properly, you will see what will happen, any where she will go, try to be there, and see the grassroots people, see women, see the youths, so her social and political capital will attract victory to APC, there is no doubt about that, she knows what to say and she doesn’t promise what she cannot fulfill, it is not possible. So she will spring surprises,” he added.
Among the ingredients of quality leadership is transparency and accountability, these, Umenzekwe said Ekwunife has in abundance. He added that Iyom has the capacity to attract federal presence to the state. “She is bringing accountability, she will help in attracting federal infrastructure in Anambra State. She did it when she was at the house of representatives, she did it when she was at the Senate, now as a Deputy Governor, federal government presence will drop like rainfall in Anambra State as a result of her involvement in this noble exercise of Governorship Election in Anambra State.”
Umenzekwe also advised both Senator Ekwunife and Prince Ukachukwu to work as a team for the victory of the party. “I see it as a marriage, the Deputy and the Governor, I see it as a marriage. they are two different people that were formed differently, so they have to adjust to accommodate one another. This is the only advice I have for them, they must adjust to accommodate one another. Ukachukwu is a very strong man, he knows when to cut his onions, he is a goal-getter as well as Ekwunife, Ekwunife is a goal-getter too, she is fearless but respectful. So two of them must adjust whatever shortcomings they have, to accommodate each other in order to move Anambra State and Nigeria forward.”
Speaking on how Anambarians can align with APC so that Anambra can be align to the national grid, he said “Well I have been saying it and will continue saying it, let Anambarians listen to Uche Ekwunife, she has been there, she knows what to do, she will not deceive Anambarians, and her principal whom I know, can fight like a tiger, they need our support, let’s support Ukachukwu and Senator Ekwunife to achieve the desired result.”
