A coalition under the aegis of Anambra South Progressives has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission to announce without further delay, the date for the by-election for the replacement of the deceased Senator Ifeanyi Ubah.
The coalition comprising stakeholders from various political parties also called on all the participating political parties to narrow the candidates standing for the election to Nnewi North zone so as to allow the people of the area to complete Ubah’s tenure.
Leader of the coalition, Mr Obi-Trice Chukwuemeka, at a press briefing in Awka on Monday – yesterday, March 24 – lamented the colossal losses suffered by the people of Anambra South in the last eight months following the void created by Ubah’s demise
“As you may be aware, the Anambra South Senatorial District has been without representation in the National Assembly for some time now due to the unfortunate passing of our indefatigable senator, the late Senator Ifeanyi Ubah,” the Coalition’s letter to INEC reads, in part.
“This void has left our people without a voice in the highest legislative body in the land. It is imperative that we take immediate action to address this anomaly—not just addressing the anomaly but doing so in such a manner that the status quo is maintained and justice is seen to have been done.
“In light of this, we call on INEC to set the stage by fixing a date for the immediate conduct of a credible by-election to fill the void. Our constitution does not envisage a situation whereby a constituency is left without representation.
“It has been more than seven months since the death of our dear Sen. Ifeanyi Ubah, and in all this time, Anambra South has been denied the right to have a say in various governance issues affecting the federation.”
The group added that: “Infrastructure is decaying in Anambra South while our youths and women yearn for empowerment, but because we do not have a representative in the Senate, we have no means to access what is due to us.
“Furthermore, we are aware that the 2025 federal budget has been passed, and the absence of a representative has robbed us of our constituency allowance. We are also aware that by Q2 of 2025, the budget process for the 2026 budget would begin. INEC must ensure that this abandonment of Anambra South ends immediately.”
It called on APGA, APC, PDP, LP, and every other political party desirous of producing candidates for the by-election to see it as a call to duty and selfless service to field one from Nnewi North, to assuage the loss of the people who lost their son in active service.
