The National Coordinator of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) Media Warriors Forum, Evangelist Chinedu Obigwe, has strongly criticised supporters of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) over the candidacy of Justina Azuka, widow of the late Hon. Justice Azuka, in the upcoming Onitsha North I State Constituency bye-election scheduled for August 16.

 

Justice Azuka, a Labour Party lawmaker representing the constituency, was kidnapped in December 2024 and later murdered by his abductors. His wife, Justina, is now contesting to replace him under the ADC, going head-to-head with a female APGA candidate.

 

In a statement released on Sunday, Obigwe accused ADC supporters of playing politics with a tragic death, insisting that Mrs. Azuka should be mourning her husband and focusing on raising their children rather than engaging in electoral politics.

 

“She has abdicated her primary responsibility of caring for the children left behind to chase shadows under the guise of contesting in the bye-election,” Obigwe stated.

 

 

 

He also described the actions of key political figures like Tony Nwoye and Idu Emeka — who are backing Justina’s candidacy — as sacrilegious, accusing them of using the grieving widow for political gain.

 

“If they truly care about her welfare and that of her children, they should raise ₦50 million to ₦100 million to empower her through business — not politics,” he argued.

 

 

 

Obigwe warned that if Justina loses the election, her political supporters would likely abandon her, and only then would she realise the gravity of her decision.

 

He cited the case of Senator Ifeanyi Ubah’s widow as a model of restraint, noting how she refused pressure from top politicians like Godswill Akpabio and Ali Ndume to join politics after her husband’s death.

 

“Mrs. Ubah focused on raising her children. Hon. Azuka’s wife should have done the same. Instead, she is allowing Senator Nwoye to make her husband turn in his grave,” he said.

 

 

 

Obigwe concluded by calling the use of sympathy politics in the wake of Azuka’s death a “sacrilegious sin,” and urged the ADC to “stop dragging the widow around” for political gain.