Ifeoma Azikiwe Wins Onitsha North 1 By-Election, Becomes Second Female Legislator in Anambra Assembly
Ifeoma Mimi Azikiwe of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has been declared the winner of the Onitsha North 1 State Constituency by-election in Anambra State. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Returning Officer, Prof. Ibiam Ekpe, announced that Azikiwe secured 7,774 votes, defeating her closest rival, Mrs. Justice Azuka of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), who polled 1,909 votes.
Other candidates in the race included Mr. Chuka Okeke of the All Progressive Congress (APC) with 1,371 votes and Ms. Njideka Ndiwe of the Young Progressive Party (YPP) with 655 votes. Prof. Ekpe, a lecturer at the Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO), praised the peaceful conduct of all contestants and commended the high voter turnout during the election.
Azikiwe’s victory fills the vacancy left by the late Justice Azuka, who was kidnapped on December 24, 2024, and found dead near the 2nd Niger Bridge on February 6, 2025. Azikiwe will serve the remaining two years of Azuka’s term in the Anambra State House of Assembly.
Upon her inauguration by Speaker Dr. Somtochukwu Udeze, Azikiwe will become the second female legislator in the eighth Assembly, which was inaugurated in June 2023. The Assembly previously had only one female member, Hon. Nkechi Ogbuefi of Anaocha 1 State Constituency, representing the Labour Party (LP).
The by-election outcome reflects strong voter support for APGA in Onitsha North 1 and marks a significant step toward increased female representation in Anambra’s legislative body.
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