After plea bargain in N2.4bn fraud case, ex-minister Oduah set for Senate contest
Former Aviation Minister Stella Oduah Announces Senate Bid Amid Ongoing Fraud Case
Less than a week after entering a plea bargain with the Federal Government regarding allegations of N2.4 billion in fraud, Stella Oduah has expressed her intention to run for the Senate in the 2027 elections.
Oduah, who previously served as the senator for Anambra North under the banner of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), is currently facing trial along with two co-defendants in connection with the fraud case.
At a recent hearing, Rotimi Oyedepo, the Director of Public Prosecution for the Federation, informed Justice Hamza Muazu of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory that Oduah has initiated steps to refund part of the allegedly misappropriated funds. “The defendants have made a move to refund a certain amount of the money into the government coffers,” Oyedepo stated, though he did not specify the exact amount.
Oduah’s attorney, Onyechi Ikpeazu, confirmed Oyedepo’s statement regarding the plea bargain and ongoing refunds. Following this development, Oduah’s campaign posters have appeared across various locations in Anambra State and online, signaling her preparations for the upcoming election.
Reports indicate that Oduah plans to leverage the support of the ruling party in Anambra State, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), in her bid for the Senate. She previously aimed for the same position in 2023 under the APGA banner but withdrew when she learned that Ebele Obiano, the wife of the then-governor, was also a candidate for the party’s nomination.
In this election cycle, Oduah will be vying against prominent figures within the APGA, including Primus Odili, a former Chief of Staff to former Governor Willie Obiano, and Dr. Alex Obiogbolu, a Special Adviser on Political Matters to Governor Chukwuma Soludo.
While attempts to reach Oduah for direct comment were unsuccessful, a media aide who requested anonymity confirmed that “Madam is preparing big for next year’s election.”
