Ndume asks Senate to allow Ifeanyi Ubah’s widow to replace her husband as senator

Borno South Senator Ali Ndume has appealed to the upper chamber to support the widow of the late Ifeanyi Ubah to replace her husband as the senator representing Anambra South Senatorial District.

Ndume made the appeal on Tuesday during the valedictory session organised by the Senate in honour of the late senator.

Ubah, a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), died at the age of 52 in a London hospital after a brief illness in July.

He defected to the APC from the Young Progressives Party (YPP) in October 2023 and declared his interest in contesting the Anambra 2025 governorship election.

Until his death, Mr Ubah was the chairperson of the Senate Committee on Petroleum Downstream. Kano South Senator Kawu Sumaila has since been appointed to replace him.

During the valedictory service, Ndume appealed to his colleagues to ensure that the late Ubah’s widow replaced her husband to continue the senator’s legacies.

The Borno senator recounted that some deceased senators were succeeded by their wives and relations. In contrast, others became members of the upper chamber under the influence of their husbands and fathers.

He appealed that this should be extended to Ubah’s widow.

“What I want to appeal to you, Mr President, is that we keep the spirit and aspirations of Ifeanyi alive,” Ndume said.

“This has happened before. When Chuba Okadigbo, a great politician, passed away, his wife, Margery, joined the Senate and carried on his legacy.

“Similarly, our First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, served in this chamber, largely supported by the goodwill of Lagosians and the legacy of her husband, who was a former governor.”

Ndume also pointed to other instances, such as Senator Tokunbo Abiru, whose father was a senator in 1979, and Senator Abdulaziz Yar’Adua, who continues the political legacy of the Yar’Adua family.

He noted that Senator Iyabo Obasanjo and Senator Ede Dafinone have also followed their fathers’ paths, representing their family legacies in the Senate.

To strengthen his argument, Ndume stated, “His wife, fortunately, is around 50 years old and has been a wonderful support system to him.

“I appeal to you, Mr. President, and my distinguished colleagues to support the idea of his family having a spiritual representative here in this chamber.

“This will ensure continuity and honor for the Anambra South Senatorial District.”