Peter Obi endorses widow to succeed husband as Anambra Assembly member

By Ayorinde Oluokun/Abuja

Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has declared support for Mrs. Justina Azuka, the widow of murdered Anambra lawmaker, Justice Azuka to succeed her husband as member of the state house of assembly in the by-election to be held this weekend.

The remains of Justice Azuka who represented Onitsha North Constituency 1 on the platform of Labour Party in the Anambra House of Assembly were discovered early in the year weeks after he was abducted by the police in Onitsha.

Police operatives in Anambra have also arrested some suspects over his abduction and murder.

However, his wife, Justina has secured the ticket of African Democratic Party, ADC to contest to replace him at the Anambra House of Assembly in the by-elections to be conducted across the country on Saturday 16, August by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

Peter Obi visited Justina, a mother of three, on Wednesday ahead of the next Saturday’s election during which he declared his support for the widow to succeed her husband.

Obi announced the visit to the family on his X platform while urging his supporters to support the widow to succeed her late husband as a members of Anambra House of Assembly.

Peter Obi in the write up titled: “Standing with Mrs. Azuka for Onitsha North 1 Constituency,” said, “Today, I visited Mrs. Justina Azuka, who recently suffered the tragic and gruesome loss of her husband, Hon. Justice Azuka, at the hands of kidnappers.

“In the face of this unimaginable pain, Mrs. Azuka has chosen the path of service, stepping forward to contest the Onitsha North Constituency 1 seat in the House of Assembly, to serve the remaining 13 months of her late husband’s tenure. She is a young mother of three — the eldest just 7 years old, and the others only 5 and 3.

“I have always maintained that leadership without compassion is meaningless. True leadership must balance competence with humanity. Mrs. Azuka is an HND graduate in Public Administration — qualified, competent, and a woman of strength, resilience, and commitment to serve.

“I call on all well-meaning citizens, at home and beyond, to rally behind her candidacy. Supporting her is not only an investment in competent representation but also a collective act of solidarity that will help ease the pain and heavy burden of her loss.

“She has my full support, and I urge us all to stand together to ensure that this capable and committed daughter of ours is elected on Saturday, 16 August 2025. In doing so, we send a clear message that in the new Nigeria, we will be compassionate, we will care for one another in times of difficulty, and we will uphold justice alongside competent leadership.”

Meanwhile, the Peter Obi Media Reach (POMR) has explianed why Peter Obi, is supporting the ADC candidate.

The POMR spokesman, Ibrahim Umar, said, “Firstly, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has not been able to sort out Labour Party issues in this election. As of this statement’s issuing, LP has no candidate in Saturday’s bye election slated nationwide.

“Secondly, the ADC candidate is the wife of the late Labour Party state Assembly member Hon. Justice Azuka, who died in the hands of kidnappers in February this year.

“The leadership of both ADC and LP, as well as the Labour Party Senator and House of Representatives member Tony Nwoye and Idu Emeka, respectively, and the House of Assembly Members in Onitsha South, on compassionate grounds, deemed it fit that the capable wife should go ahead to complete the tenure of her husband.

“Where issues of candidates are not in dispute, Obi always supports Labour Party flag bearers, as in the November gubernatorial poll, where our Principal’s candidate is indisputably Chief George Moghalu of the Labour Party.

Updated