Azuka Okwuosa, a former gubernatorial aspirant in Anambra State, has emerged as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the upcoming August 16 senatorial bye-election in Anambra South.
The primary election took place on Saturday at Anaedo Hall in Nnewi, where Okwuosa secured a decisive victory over his rival, Obinna Uzor. Okwuosa garnered 470 votes, while Uzor received 57 votes.
An additional 22 votes were voided, bringing the total number of votes cast to 549.
The primary was supervised by a seven-member electoral panel from the APC national secretariat, led by Chief Henry Ikoh.
According to him, 594 delegates from all seven local government areas in the senatorial zone participated in the process.
Chief Ikoh declared, “By the authority given to me by the acting national vice chairman of APC, I confirm that an election was held before INEC, security agents, media and delegates. The exercise was peaceful, and I hereby declare that Azuka Okwuosa won the election and has been returned.”
In his acceptance remarks, Okwuosa highlighted unity within the party and emphasized that the victory belonged to the APC as a whole, not just himself: “There is no winner, there is no loser. APC won.”
Reflecting on the bigger political challenge ahead, Okwuosa said, “The greater battle is out there, and APC as a party at the centre is poised to win the election to continue the legacy of late Senator Ifeanyi Ubah.”
While expressing appreciation for his emergence as the candidate, Okwuosa also shared a sense of loss due to the circumstances surrounding the bye-election.
“He was a great senator and within the period he was in the Senate, he did a lot and I see it as a challenge for me to take over from where he stopped,” he said of the late Senator Ubah.
Born on November 3, 1959, in Jos, Plateau State, Okwuosa has held various political roles, including local government chairman and commissioner.
He once contested for governor under the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and had a brief stint with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from 1999 to 2003 before joining the APC, where he has remained ever since.
Okwuosa said his decision to stick with APC is rooted in his commitment to public service.
He noted that the party gives him the platform to “keep pursuing the greater good for Anambra State.”
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has scheduled the senatorial bye-election alongside others across 12 states for Saturday, August 16, 2025.
According to INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, the polls are being held to fill legislative vacancies caused by resignations, deaths, or court rulings.
