Born
Ekwunife Uche Lilian was born on 12 Dec 1970.
9 Jun 2015 – 13 Jun 2023 · with interruptions
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Uche Lilian Ekwunife (nee Ogudebe; born 12 December 1970) is the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Anambra Central Senatorial District in the Senate election of 16 January 2027 (INEC final list, 12 September 2026). From Igbo-Ukwu, Anambra State, she studied Business Education at the University of Calabar and worked as a banker with Equatorial Trust Bank and Standard Trust Bank, including in Onitsha and Awka up to…
Uche Lilian Ekwunife (nee Ogudebe; born 12 December 1970) is the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Anambra Central Senatorial District in the Senate election of 16 January 2027 (INEC final list, 12 September 2026). From Igbo-Ukwu, Anambra State, she studied Business Education at the University of Calabar and worked as a banker with Equatorial Trust Bank and Standard Trust Bank, including in Onitsha and Awka up to about 2003. She holds the Nri title Iyom and was made a Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) in May 2023. She was elected to the House of Representatives for Anaocha/Njikoka/Dunukofia on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) platform in 2007. She ran for governor on the Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA) ticket on 6 February 2010 (9,595 votes; Peter Obi won) and returned to the House in 2011 on the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) ticket; after the Court of Appeal upheld an ACN petition against that win, she won the rerun of 15 February 2012 (29,005 votes to Dozie Nwankwo's 21,948). She chaired the House Committee on Environment, came second to Willie Obiano in APGA's governorship primary of 26 August 2013 (150 votes to 817), sued to be declared the candidate and withdrew the suit on 28 November 2013, and announced her return to the PDP on 3 August 2014. As the PDP candidate she was declared winner of the Anambra Central Senate seat on 30 March 2015 (101,548 votes to Victor Umeh's 77,129), took her seat in June and chaired the Committee on Downstream Petroleum from November 2015. The tribunal upheld her election on 9 October 2015, but on 7 December 2015 the Court of Appeal, Enugu, nullified it, holding that she was not the product of a valid PDP primary, and barred her and the PDP from the fresh election. She defected to the APC on 8 January 2016 but lost its rerun ticket to Sharon Ikeazor; the Court of Appeal refused to revisit its judgment (3 March 2016) and the Supreme Court struck out her appeal for lack of jurisdiction (10 February 2017). Umeh won the rerun on 13 January 2018. After briefly holding a disputed APC ticket in 2018 she returned to the PDP and defeated Umeh on 23 February 2019; his petition failed at the tribunal and, on 1 November 2019, at the Court of Appeal. In the 9th Senate she chaired the Committee on Science and Technology. She came third in the PDP governorship primary of 26 June 2021 (44 votes) and chaired the party's campaign council. Renominated unopposed in May 2022, she lost the 25 February 2023 election to Umeh, then of the Labour Party (103,608 votes; her 49,532), two days after the Court of Appeal reversed a judgment she and the PDP had obtained disqualifying him. She became Director General of the South East Governors' Forum by August 2023 and was formally received into the APC on 2 December 2023. As running mate to Nicholas Ukachukwu she was the APC deputy governorship candidate in the 8 November 2025 Anambra election, won by Governor Charles Soludo (422,664 votes to the APC ticket's 99,445). During that campaign APGA asked INEC to disqualify her over a PhD from Atlantic International University, an unaccredited US institution; she maintains the degree is authentic, and no INEC or court finding was made. In August 2026 she was named South-East zonal director of President Tinubu's re-election campaign. Dr Ngozi Kene-Chiedu won the APC's Anambra Central primary of 18 May 2026; Ekwunife's name came onto the ballot through the party's substitution list, and her opponents include Victor Umeh (NDC) and Dozie Nwankwo (APGA).
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Ekwunife Uche Lilian was born on 12 Dec 1970.
BSc Business Education (Accounting) · Business Education (Accounting)
Graduation stated in the linked record. This does not by itself authenticate an original certificate.
Peoples Democratic Party · Njikoka/Dunukofia/Anaocha · Anambra
Elected for Anaocha/Njikoka/Dunukofia on the PDP platform in 2007 (State House, 12 Dec 2025; Vanguard, 16 Nov 2018). Poll day, votes and opponents not found.
Njikoka/Dunukofia/Anaocha · Anambra
Took office
Interruption in recorded service: 22 Dec 2011 – 21 Feb 2012
Returned to office
Service ended
Recorded periods in this office: 5 Jun 2007 – 6 Jun 2011 (PDP); 6 Jun 2011 – 22 Dec 2011 (APGA); 21 Feb 2012 – 9 Jun 2015 (APGA).
Anambra
Candidate of the Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA; not in the party register here, so party_acronym is empty) in the Anambra governorship election of Saturday 6 February 2010, the only prominent woman in the race; 9,595 votes. INEC declared the incumbent Peter Obi (APGA) the winner with 97,833, ahead of Chris Ngige (AC) 60,240 and Charles Soludo (PDP) 59,355 (Vanguard, 8 Feb…
Candidate of the Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA; not in the party register here, so party_acronym is empty) in the Anambra governorship election of Saturday 6 February 2010, the only prominent woman in the race; 9,595 votes. INEC declared the incumbent Peter Obi (APGA) the winner with 97,833, ahead of Chris Ngige (AC) 60,240 and Charles Soludo (PDP) 59,355 (Vanguard, 8 Feb 2010).
All Progressives Grand Alliance · Njikoka/Dunukofia/Anaocha · Anambra
Won the April 2011 House election on the APGA ticket; the Court of Appeal, Enugu, upheld ACN candidate Dozie Nwankwo's petition that the poll was marred by irregularities and ordered a rerun. Stored date and votes are the rerun's: held Wednesday 15 February 2012, declared on 16 February in Neni by returning officer Emeka Ezeonu - Ekwunife (APGA) 29,005, Nwankwo (ACN) 21,948;…
Won the April 2011 House election on the APGA ticket; the Court of Appeal, Enugu, upheld ACN candidate Dozie Nwankwo's petition that the poll was marred by irregularities and ordered a rerun. Stored date and votes are the rerun's: held Wednesday 15 February 2012, declared on 16 February in Neni by returning officer Emeka Ezeonu - Ekwunife (APGA) 29,005, Nwankwo (ACN) 21,948; the ACN alleged rigging in Agulu-Ezigbo wards. Original April 2011 figures not found.
All Progressives Grand Alliance · Anambra
Runner-up in APGA's governorship primary in Awka on 26 August 2013: Obiano 817 of 1,076 votes, Ekwunife 150, Paul Odenigbo 49, Emeka Nwogbo 22, John Nwosu 18 (panel chairman Martin Agbaso). Her later suit to be declared candidate was withdrawn on 28 November 2013 (see legal record).
Rejoined the PDP on leaving APGA (announced 3 August 2014, with supporters); PDP senator-elect 2015. Defected to the APC on Friday 8 January 2016 after her election was nullified.
Peoples Democratic Party · Anambra Central · Anambra
Declared winner on Monday 30 March 2015 in Awka by returning officer Dr Pius Okoye: Ekwunife (PDP) 101,548, Victor Umeh (APGA) 77,129, Chris Ngige (APC) 20,850, Anayo Nweke (ADC) 227; 15 candidates. She was the PDP's nominee from the primary of 7 December 2014 (Obiora Okonkwo claimed he won it). The tribunal upheld her win on 9 October 2015, but on 7 December 2015 the Court of…
Declared winner on Monday 30 March 2015 in Awka by returning officer Dr Pius Okoye: Ekwunife (PDP) 101,548, Victor Umeh (APGA) 77,129, Chris Ngige (APC) 20,850, Anayo Nweke (ADC) 227; 15 candidates. She was the PDP's nominee from the primary of 7 December 2014 (Obiora Okonkwo claimed he won it). The tribunal upheld her win on 9 October 2015, but on 7 December 2015 the Court of Appeal, Enugu, held she 'was not the product of a valid primary', nullified the election, ordered a fresh poll within 90 days and barred her and the PDP from it (see legal records). Umeh says recounted figures at the tribunal were about 93,000 to his 86,000 (Daily Post, 13 Feb 2017). Umeh (APGA) won the court-ordered rerun of 13 January 2018 with 64,879 votes.
Anambra Central · Anambra
Took office
Interruption in recorded service: 7 Dec 2015 – 11 Jun 2019
Returned to office
Service ended
Recorded periods in this office: 9 Jun 2015 – 7 Dec 2015 (PDP); 11 Jun 2019 – 13 Jun 2023 (PDP).
Chair · Senate
Announced her defection to the APC in Awka on Friday 8 January 2016; lost the APC rerun ticket to Sharon Ikeazor; chaired the APC's Lagos State congress committee (May 2018) and won its disputed Anambra Central Senate ticket (October 2018). Her return to the PDP was reported by 8 November 2018 (exact day not found; end date is 'on or before').
All Progressives Congress · Anambra Central · Anambra
APC primary for the court-ordered Anambra Central rerun, held Wednesday 20 January 2016 but not concluded in three of seven LGAs; the party's screening committee (chair Osita Okechukwu) had recommended Sharon Ikeazor and called Ekwunife, two weeks a member, a 'fair-weather' politician who 'dumps political parties at will'. The APC confirmed Ikeazor as its rerun candidate (5…
APC primary for the court-ordered Anambra Central rerun, held Wednesday 20 January 2016 but not concluded in three of seven LGAs; the party's screening committee (chair Osita Okechukwu) had recommended Sharon Ikeazor and called Ekwunife, two weeks a member, a 'fair-weather' politician who 'dumps political parties at will'. The APC confirmed Ikeazor as its rerun candidate (5 February 2016). No vote figures were published.
All Progressives Congress (APC)
Named chair of the five-member committee that ran the APC's Lagos State congress (committees inaugurated 17 May 2018 for the 19 May congresses).
Return to the PDP reported by 8 November 2018 (the state chairman said he was unaware; the party's election committee secretary confirmed it on 9 November). PDP senator 2019-2023 and its 2023 candidate. Left before being formally received into the APC on 2 December 2023 (day she left the PDP not found; end date is 'on or before').
All Progressives Congress · Anambra Central · Anambra
Reported to have won the APC's Anambra Central ticket in its October 2018 primaries (Labour Minister Chris Ngige bought her nomination form); other aspirants disputed the primary and INEC was said to have declared that no primary held in the district. In November 2018 she returned to the PDP, which made her its candidate after its nominee Charles Odunukwe withdrew. Primary day…
Reported to have won the APC's Anambra Central ticket in its October 2018 primaries (Labour Minister Chris Ngige bought her nomination form); other aspirants disputed the primary and INEC was said to have declared that no primary held in the district. In November 2018 she returned to the PDP, which made her its candidate after its nominee Charles Odunukwe withdrew. Primary day and votes not found.
Peoples Democratic Party · Anambra Central · Anambra
PDP candidate (substituted for Charles Odunukwe after her return to the PDP in November 2018). Declared winner over the incumbent Victor Umeh (APGA) and Sylvester Okonkwo (APC). Vote totals not stored: Daily Trust/NAN (25 Feb 2019) quotes 18,412 to 14,403 to 1,144, which looks partial (Umeh later said 81,429 votes were recorded for him). Umeh's petition failed at the tribunal…
PDP candidate (substituted for Charles Odunukwe after her return to the PDP in November 2018). Declared winner over the incumbent Victor Umeh (APGA) and Sylvester Okonkwo (APC). Vote totals not stored: Daily Trust/NAN (25 Feb 2019) quotes 18,412 to 14,403 to 1,144, which looks partial (Umeh later said 81,429 votes were recorded for him). Umeh's petition failed at the tribunal (9 Sep 2019) and the Court of Appeal (1 Nov 2019).
Chair · Senate
The end of this committee role is not recorded.
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)
Appointed chairperson (reported also as director-general) of the PDP's campaign council for the 6 November 2021 Anambra governorship election on 8 August 2021, after losing the primary to Ozigbo.
Peoples Democratic Party · Anambra
Declared her governorship ambition on 18 June 2020. Third in the PDP (national-recognised) primary at the Dora Akunyili Women Development Centre, Awka, on Saturday 26 June 2021: Ozigbo 62, Obiora Okonkwo 58, Ekwunife 44 (218 votes cast; returning officer Philip Shuaibu). A rival faction's primary the same day produced Ugochukwu Uba. She conceded on 28 June and on 8 August 2021…
Declared her governorship ambition on 18 June 2020. Third in the PDP (national-recognised) primary at the Dora Akunyili Women Development Centre, Awka, on Saturday 26 June 2021: Ozigbo 62, Obiora Okonkwo 58, Ekwunife 44 (218 votes cast; returning officer Philip Shuaibu). A rival faction's primary the same day produced Ugochukwu Uba. She conceded on 28 June and on 8 August 2021 became chair of Ozigbo's campaign council.
Peoples Democratic Party · Anambra Central · Anambra
Sole aspirant in the PDP Anambra Central primary at Finotel Hotel, Awka, on Friday 27 May 2022; returned by delegates' vote (count not published), panel chairman Alfred Isename.
Listed (as 'Sen. Lady Lilian Ekwunife') among CON recipients in the special national honours list published on 29 May 2023 under President Buhari.
An award records recognition; it is not an independent measure of performance.
South East Governors' Forum
Director General of the South East Governors' Forum (chaired by Imo Governor Hope Uzodimma) by 10 August 2023 and still in post in November 2024; appointment and end dates not found.
Peoples Democratic Party · Anambra Central · Anambra
Lost her re-election bid: Victor Umeh (LP) 103,608, Dozie Nwankwo (APGA) 69,702, Ekwunife (PDP) 49,532 (returning officer Prof. Chuka Enuka, Awka, 28 Feb 2023). She conceded and congratulated Umeh. Two days before the poll the Court of Appeal had reversed the 27 January 2023 judgment she and the PDP obtained disqualifying Umeh (see legal record).
Formally received into the Anambra APC with Senator Ifeanyi Ubah on Saturday 2 December 2023 (she may have joined shortly before). APC deputy governorship candidate on 8 November 2025; APC candidate for Anambra Central on INEC's final list (12 September 2026).
Current affiliation in the reviewed membership record.
All Progressives Congress · Anambra
APC deputy governorship candidate (running mate to Nicholas Ukachukwu) in the Anambra governorship election of Saturday 8 November 2025. INEC returning officer Edoba Omoregie: Soludo (APGA) 422,664, Ukachukwu/Ekwunife (APC) 99,445, Paul Chukwuma (YPP) 37,753, George Moghalu (LP) 10,576. Votes are the joint ticket's. She congratulated Soludo on 10 November 2025 while Ukachukwu…
APC deputy governorship candidate (running mate to Nicholas Ukachukwu) in the Anambra governorship election of Saturday 8 November 2025. INEC returning officer Edoba Omoregie: Soludo (APGA) 422,664, Ukachukwu/Ekwunife (APC) 99,445, Paul Chukwuma (YPP) 37,753, George Moghalu (LP) 10,576. Votes are the joint ticket's. She congratulated Soludo on 10 November 2025 while Ukachukwu said he was consulting. In June 2024 she had said she would not run for deputy governor; the day she was nominated running mate was not found.
APC Presidential Campaign Council (2027)
Named South-East zonal director (under the directorate headed by James Faleke) when President Tinubu constituted the APC presidential campaign council on 22 August 2026; also reported as chair/coordinator of the South-East PCC.
All Progressives Congress · Anambra Central · Anambra
constituency: Anambra Central Senatorial District · INEC final list of candidates (Senate), published 2026-09-12 — SN 18, p.14; INEC name: EKWUNIFE UCHE LILIAN; age 55; female; qualification (as declared to INEC): FIRST SCHOOL LEAVING CERTIFICATE GENERAL CERTIFICATE OF EDUCATION BS.c · Primary: the APC's Anambra Central senatorial primary was held on Monday 18 May 2026 and won…
constituency: Anambra Central Senatorial District · INEC final list of candidates (Senate), published 2026-09-12 — SN 18, p.14; INEC name: EKWUNIFE UCHE LILIAN; age 55; female; qualification (as declared to INEC): FIRST SCHOOL LEAVING CERTIFICATE GENERAL CERTIFICATE OF EDUCATION BS.c · Primary: the APC's Anambra Central senatorial primary was held on Monday 18 May 2026 and won by Dr Ngozi Benedicta Kene-Chiedu (The Nation 19 May; TheCable 20 May; Daily Post 12 Jun 2026); no vote figures were published and Ekwunife is not reported as an aspirant in it. Ekwunife's name was not on the APC's original submission; it came in on the party's substitution list before INEC's deadline (Independent, 13 Sep 2026), and INEC's final list of 12 Sep 2026 names her as the APC candidate. Opponents on the final list include Victor Umeh (NDC), Dozie Ferdinand Nwankwo (APGA), Geoffery Ndubuisi Nwobu (ADC) and Lawrence Chijioke Ughamadu (PDP).
Joined APGA after her 2010 governorship defeat on the PPA ticket (day not found); won APGA's 2011 House ticket and the February 2012 rerun; runner-up in APGA's 2013 governorship primary. Announced her exit to APGA ward and LGA executives on Sunday 3 August 2014.
Equatorial Trust Bank Limited
Joined the (now defunct) Equatorial Trust Bank about two years after graduating from the University of Calabar, then moved to Standard Trust Bank (The Guardian, 2016). Years not found.
Standard Trust Bank Limited
Moved from Equatorial Trust Bank to Standard Trust Bank; worked around Onitsha and Awka from 1997 through 2003 as a business officer and profit centre manager (The Guardian, 2016). Exact years at this bank not stated.
Chair · House
The end of this committee role is not recorded.
Traditional title held by 2011 (The Guardian, 2016, spelling as printed; rendered 'damsel favoured by God, with a crown at a tender age'); she styles herself 'Iyom'. Year conferred not found.
An award records recognition; it is not an independent measure of performance.
PDP member when elected to the House of Representatives in 2007. Left for the Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA, not in the party register here) ahead of the 6 February 2010 governorship election; the day she left the PDP was not found, so no end date is stored.
An end date is not recorded for this membership.
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