Just a week after it was announced that former Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah, has entered a plea bargain arrangement with the Federal Government over allegations of N2.4 billion fraud hanging over her neck, she has declared her intention to run for Senate in the 2027 election.
Oduah, a former minister, served as senator representing Anambra North on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
She has been standing trial, alongside two co-defendants, in a fraud related case.
During the last hearing on the matter, prosecuting lawyer and Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation, DPPF, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, announced before Justice Hamza Muazu of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, that Oduah had entered a please bargain and started making refunds to the Federal Government.
Oyedepo said: “The defendants have made a move to refund a certain amount of the money into the government coffers.”
He was not specific about the amount the defendants have refunded, but Oduah’s lawyer, Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN, confirmed what Oyedepo said.
Surprisingly, days after this announcement, Oduah’s posters announcing her intention to run for Senate has flooded parts of Anambra State and the internet space.
It was also learnt that Oduah has already oiled her political machinery, with plans to use the Anambra State rulling party, All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, as a vehicle to accomplish her ambition.
She had attempted to run for the same position in 2023 on the APGA platform but later rescinded the decision after she found out that wife of then governor of the state, Mrs Ebele Obiano, was in the race on same party platform.
This time the former minister will be challenging two top members of the party for the ticket. They are Mr Primus Odili, the former Chief of Staff to Anambra State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano, who is considered the most popular and acceptable, and Dr Alex Obiogbolu, Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s Special Adviser on Political Matters.
DAILY POST was however unable to speak with Oduah to confirm her ambition, but one of her media aides, who pleaded anonymity, said: “Madam is preparing big for next year’s election.”
(Daily Post)
