Uche Ekwunife, Anambra senator, joins governorship race

Uche Ekwunife, senator representing Anambra central senatorial district, has joined the governorship race in the state.

Ekwunife, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), submitted her nomination form at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja, on Tuesday

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had fixed November 6 for the gubernatorial election in the state.

Speaking with journalists, Ekwunife expressed optimism that she would clinch the party’s ticket.

The senator added that she will remain in the party even if the primary election does not go in her favour.

“I am a sitting senator of PDP and my tenure will end in 2023. If I don’t get the party’s ticket, I am not defecting to anywhere, but I am very optimistic and I also believe that I will get the ticket to run for the governorship,” she said.

“If elected governor, I will reform the security architecture. I will partner with security agencies to make sure they are equipped with sophisticated weapons.”

Speaking on the idea of a consensus candidate, Ekwunife said it is too late for the party to initiate such action.

She also expressed readiness to empower women if elected governor.

“I don’t see how a consensus arrangement will play out now, considering the galaxy of men and a woman in the race. I am running to win, so I don’t see how consensus arrangement will work,” she said.

“I ran for the house of representatives in 2007 under a very stiff competition and by the special grace of God, I won to represent the good people of Anambra central.

“I was not a governor and you know that in that position, there is a limit to what you can do in terms of maybe giving a woman a ticket.

“But I worked with a lot of women and empowered a lot of them. I was the first that took women to Dubai to establish businesses for them, but I can’t give a woman ticket to go and run an election.

“I encouraged a lot of women and in fact, a lot of women are under my watch and they have tried their best to get into elective positions.”