Former Aviation Minister Stella Oduah has declared her intention to contest the 2027 Anambra North Senate seat, just one week after announcing a plea bargain with the Federal Government over a N2.4 billion fraud charge.
Oduah, a former senator for the constituency, is currently standing trial alongside two co-defendants. During the last hearing at the Federal High Court in Abuja, the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, informed Justice Hamza Muazu that Oduah had entered a plea bargain agreement and initiated refunds to the government. Her lead counsel, Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN, confirmed the development, though specific amounts refunded were not disclosed.
Days after this court update, posters endorsing Oduah’s Senate ambition appeared across Anambra State and online. Political sources indicate she is mobilizing to secure the ticket of the state’s ruling party, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA). This marks a renewed attempt; she previously sought the APGA nomination for the same seat in 2023 but withdrew after Mrs. Ebele Obiano, wife of the then-governor, entered the race.
For the 2027 cycle, Oduah is expected to face significant intra-party competition. Key rivals within APGA include Mr. Primus Odili, former Chief of Staff to ex-Governor Willie Obiano, and Dr. Alex Obiogbolu, a Special Adviser to current Governor Chukwuma Soludo. Mr. Odili is widely regarded as the frontrunner due to his established political structure and acceptability.
A media aide to Oduah, speaking anonymously, stated she is “preparing big for next year’s election,” confirming her active political planning. The Media Talk Africa could not reach Oduah directly for comment.
The convergence of her ongoing legal resolution and immediate political resurgence presents a complex dynamic for her Senate bid. Her plea bargain could influence voter perception and party calculations, while her chosen vehicle, APGA, remains dominant in Anambra. The eventual outcome will depend on the final terms of her legal settlement and her ability to navigate the party’s internal power structures ahead of the nomination process.
