Senator Ifeanyi Ubah passed away on July 27, 2024, in London, England, due to a cardiac arrest. He was 52 years old at the time of his death.
Ubah was a Senator representing Anambra South senatorial district and had served in that position since June 11, 2019 till his death.
His absence as a serving Senator for Anambra South Senatorial Zone has lead to several significant negative impacts, especially given the importance of that position in influencing federal policy, attracting development projects, and voicing local concerns at the national level.
Without a serving Senator, the zone is not actively represented in legislative debates and decisions that could directly affect them. These include budgeting, infrastructure, education, and security.
Senators often lobby for federal projects like road construction, rural electrification, water projects, or educational infrastructure for their constituencies.
The absence of such advocacy results in the zone being overlooked in national planning and allocations.
Each Senator has access to constituency funds to execute local empowerment programmes, scholarships, skill acquisition centers, and health initiatives. Without a Senator, these initiatives stall or disappear entirely, directly affecting grassroots development.
As it is now, Anambra South Senatorial zone experiences a decline in political relevance at the national level, especially during high-stakes decisions affecting the South East or Nigeria as a whole.
This affects not only resource allocation but also political appointments in the zone.
Senators often play key roles during crises such as communal clashes, boundary disputes, or civil unrest, mediating and attracting attention for intervention.
In the absence of such leadership, conflicts may escalate or remain unresolved longer than expected.
Senator Ifeanyi Ubah was seen as a politically strategic figure, especially for the APC’s expansion in the South East. His death and the lack of an immediate replacement has slowed down political mobilization or left his followers disoriented.
Bills or motions he had sponsored particularly those affecting Anambra South have been abandoned and indeed have lost traction in the Senate without someone to continue pushing them forward.
Aspirants from various political parties desirous to fill the vacancy created by Senator Ubah’s death have been busy with endless sensitization preparatory to a by-election which conduct looks like eternity.
This is not in the best interest of the people of Anambra South and the State in general.
It is, therefore, imperative for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to do the needful to close the lacuna that has created loss of political representation and untold hardship to Anambra South Senatorial zone constituents.
Now is the time to act, INEC.
