The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC has declared the candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) for the Onitsha North I State Constituency, Barr. Ifeoma Mimi Azikiwe, as winner of the by-election held on Saturday.
Azikiwe polled 7,774 votes to defeat Mrs. Justina Azuka of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), who scored 1,909 votes.
Justina is the widow of the slain lawmaker who previously represented the constituency before he was kidnapped on the eve of Christmas 2024.
His body was later discovered in the bush near the Second Niger Bridge on February 6, 2025.
Justina had clinched the ticket of the ADC in what many described as sympathy endorsement for her late husband.
The Labour Party had also withdrawn from the said by-election, aligning with the ADC candidate, as a mark of respect for the late Justice, who was a member of the LP.
Announcing the result, the Returning Officer of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Ibiam Ekpe of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri, revealed that the Mr. Ezennia Chuka Ojekwe of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Ms. Njideka Ndiwe of the Young Progressives Party (YPP) received 1,371 and 655 votes respectively.
Prof. Ekpe commended both candidates and voters for their peaceful conduct during the exercise.
Azikiwe, upon swearing in, will serve out the remaining 13 months of the late lawmaker’s tenure.
Upon inauguration by the Speaker of the Anambra State House of Assembly, Dr. Somtochukwu Udeze, she will become the second female legislator in the eighth Assembly.
