Stella Oduah

Princess Stella Oduah
Stella Oduah
Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria from Anambra North Senatorial District
In office
June 2015 – June 2023
ConstituencyAnambra North
Preceded byFidelia Njeze
Succeeded byTony Nwoye
Personal details
Born (1962-01-05) 5 January 1962 (age 62)
NationalityNigerian
Political partyPeoples Democratic Party (PDP)

Stella Oduah Ogiemwonyi (born 5 January 1962) is a Nigerian politician who served as a Minister of Aviation from July 2, 2011 to February 12, 2014[1][2] and as a Senator from Anambra North Senatorial District.[3] She was also the Director of Administration and Finance during the political campaign of President Goodluck Jonathan.

Oduah was a delegate for Nigeria at the papal inauguration of Pope Francis in 2013. She went along the President of the Senate, David Mark and Viola Onwuliri. She has been involved in controversies ranging from inflation of BMW cars[4] as well as her education and degree.

Senate career

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In 2015, she was elected to the Nigerian Senate to represent Anambra North Senatorial District.[5][6] She was one of the only seven women elected to the 8th. The others were Rose Okoji Oko, Uche Ekwunife, Fatimat Raji Rasaki, Oluremi Tinubu, Abiodun Olujimi and Binta Garba.[7] Oduah was re-elected to a second term in the Senate in 2019.[8][9] In 2022, she ran again under APC but lost to the incumbent Senator Tony Nwoye.

Background

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Oduah was born to Igwe D.O. Oduah of Akili-Ozizor, Ogbaru L.G.A. in Anambra State on January 5, 1962.[10] Oduah-Ogiemwonyi received her bachelor's and master's degree (in Accounting and Business Administration respectively) in the United States. She returned to Nigeria in 1983 and she joined the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation.[11]

In 1992, she left the NNPC to establish the Sea Petroleum & Gas Company Limited (SPG), an independent marketer of petroleum products in Nigeria.[12]

She was married to the former Minister for Works, Engr. Chris Ogiemwonyi[11] and has children.

Politics

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On February 9, The Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) indicted Stella Oduah, and the Nigerian Subsidiary of Chinese Construction Giant, CCECC, in allege fraudulent cash transaction of about N5billion over five months in 2014.[13]

On 26 August 2021, Stella Oduah left People's Democratic Party to join the All Progressives Congress.[14][15] When asked, She said she joined the ruling party because she wants to change the “political narrative” in the South-East region of the country.[16][17]

References

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  1. ^ "Jonathan drops corrupt Aviation Minister, Stella Oduah, 3 others". Premium Times. 12 February 2014. Retrieved 2014-02-12.
  2. ^ "Jonathan's cabinet". Archived from the original on August 9, 2011. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
  3. ^ "Court fixes Nov 22 for arraignment of ex-Aviation Minister, Stella Oduah". Vanguard News. 2021-10-20. Retrieved 2022-03-16.
  4. ^ "How Aviation Minister Stella Oduah Forced Cash-Strapped Aviation Agency To Spend $1.6 Million On Two BMW Armored Cars For Her". Sahara Reporters. 15 October 2013. Retrieved 9 July 2017.
  5. ^ TheScoop (2015-03-30). "She's back, she's back: Princess 'BMW' Stella Oduah wins Anambra North senate seat". The ScoopNG. Retrieved 2020-06-10.
  6. ^ Olowolagba, Fikayo (2019-02-25). "Nigeria election result: PDP's Stella Oduah wins Anambra North senatorial seat". Daily Post Nigeria. Retrieved 2020-06-10.
  7. ^ The 6 female senators in 8th National Assembly, Naij,com, Retrieved 15 February 2016
  8. ^ "Stella Oduah wins Anambra North Senatorial Election". 2019-02-25. Retrieved 2020-06-10.
  9. ^ Newsbulletin (2019-02-25). "2019 elections: Senator Stella Oduah wins Anambra North, promises to sustain her quality representation". News Bulletinng. Retrieved 2020-06-10.
  10. ^ "encomiummagazine.com". www.encomiummagazine.com. Retrieved 9 July 2017.[permanent dead link]
  11. ^ a b http://www.neighbours4goodluck.org/1/Princess%20Stella%20Oduah%20Ogiemwonyi%20OON.html [dead link]
  12. ^ "Account Suspended". Seapetrol.com. Retrieved 2013-08-30.
  13. ^ "REVEALED: How Stella Oduah, CCECC, others laundered N5 billion – EFCC". 2021-02-16. Retrieved 2021-05-18.
  14. ^ Shibayan, Dyepkazah (2021-08-26). "Stella Oduah dumps PDP for APC". TheCable. Retrieved 2021-09-26.
  15. ^ "Stella Oduah dumps PDP, joins APC". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. 2021-08-27. Retrieved 2021-09-26.
  16. ^ "Senator Stella Oduah Dumps PDP For APC | Channels Television". www.channelstv.com. Retrieved 2021-09-26.
  17. ^ "Stella Oduah dumps PDP, joins APC". Punch Newspapers. 2021-08-26. Retrieved 2021-09-26.

Notes

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  1. ^ Abaribe was elected as a member of the PDP but switched to the APC in May 2022.
  2. ^ Abbo was elected as a member of the PDP but switched to the APC in November 2020.
  3. ^ Akpan was elected as a member of the PDP but switched to the YPP in July 2022.
  4. ^ The PDP's Ekpenyong was elected senator in 2019 but a Court of Appeal partially annulled the results and called a supplementary election in the affected areas. Ekpenyong won the ensuing rerun election and was sworn-in again in January 2020.
  5. ^ Oduah was elected as a member of the PDP but switched to the APC in August 2021 before returning to the PDP in April 2022.
  6. ^ Jika was elected as a member of the APC but switched to the NNPP in June 2022.
  7. ^ Bulkachuwa was elected as a member of the APC but switched to the PDP in November 2022.
  8. ^ Gumau was elected as a member of the APC but switched to the NNPP in May 2022.
  9. ^ The PDP's Douye Diri was elected senator in 2019 but resigned in February 2020 after winning election to become Bayelsa State Governor. Cleopas won the ensuing bye-election and took office in December 2020.
  10. ^ The PDP's Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo was elected senator in 2019 but resigned in February 2020 after winning election to become Bayelsa State Deputy Governor. Dickson won the ensuing bye-election and took office in December 2020.
  11. ^ a b In April 2022, Adamu and Kyari resigned from the Senate after taking APC party offices the month prior.
  12. ^ The PDP's Rose Okoji Oko was elected senator in 2019 but died in March 2020. Jarigbe and fellow PDP member Stephen Odey fought in court over the ensuing by-election's PDP nomination; Odey won both initial court decisions and the by-election before taking office late in December 2020. However, Jarigbe later won several court challenges which declared him the legitimate PDP nominee and thus senator. Jarigbe took office in September 2021.
  13. ^ Nwaoboshi was elected as a member of the PDP but switched to the APC in June 2021.
  14. ^ Alimikhena was elected as a member of the APC but switched to the PDP in June 2022.
  15. ^ The APC's Adedayo Clement Adeyeye was elected senator in 2019 but the NASS Election Petition Tribunal awarded and Court of Appeal affirmed the win to Olujimi. She took office in November 2019.
  16. ^ Onyewuchi was elected as a member of the PDP but switched to the LP in June 2022.
  17. ^ Due to disputes over alleged irregularities, the APC's Benjamin Uwajumogu was not sworn in until July 2019. Uwajumogu died in December 2019 leading to a bye-election. After disputes, Ibezim was awarded the bye-election victory and took office in April 2021.
  18. ^ Due to disputes over the alleged forced declaration of his election, Okorocha was not sworn in until June 14, 2019.
  19. ^ Shekarau was elected as a member of the APC but switched to the NNPP in May 2022 then to the PDP in August 2022.
  20. ^ Babba Kaita was elected as a member of the APC but switched to the PDP in April 2022.
  21. ^ Aliero was elected as a member of the APC but switched to the PDP in May 2022.
  22. ^ Abdullahi was elected as a member of the APC but switched to the PDP in June 2022.
  23. ^ The PDP's Dino Melaye was elected senator in 2019 but Adeyemi petitioned against the results and the NASS Election Petition Tribunal annulled the results and called a new election. Adeyemi won the ensuing rerun election and took office in December 2019.
  24. ^ The APC's Adebayo Osinowo was elected senator in 2019 but died in June 2020. Abiru won the ensuing bye-election and took office in December 2020.
  25. ^ Akwashiki was elected as a member of the APC but switched to the SDP in July 2022.
  26. ^ The APC's David Umaru was elected senator in 2019 but the Supreme Court awarded the APC primary win to Musa making him senator. He took office in July 2019.
  27. ^ Balogun was elected as a member of the PDP but switched to the APC in May 2022.
  28. ^ The APC's Ignatius Datong Longjan was elected senator in 2019 but died in February 2020. Daduut won the ensuing bye-election and took office in December 2020.
  29. ^ The APC's Abubakar Shehu Tambuwal was elected senator in 2019 but a Court of Appeal awarded the win to Abdullahi Danbaba. He took office in November 2019 as a member of the PDP but switched to the APC in April 2022.
  30. ^ Bwacha was elected as a member of the PDP but switched to the APC in February 2022.
  31. ^ a b c Prior to inauguration, the APC's Zamfara votes were voided due to improper holding of party primaries. Thus the PDP runners-up took office. All three (Anka, Hassan Muhammed Gusau, Yaú) switched to the APC in June 2021. In February 2022, Muhammed Gusau resigned to become Zamfara Deputy Governor.