Nigerians on social media, particularly Twitter, have expressed outrage following Senator Ali Ndume’s recent appeal to the Senate, requesting that Uchenna, the widow of late Senator Ifeanyi Ubah, be allowed to assume her husband’s seat representing Anambra South.
Ndume made the suggestion during a Senate session dedicated to honouring Ubah, who died in July.
He argued that supporting Ubah’s wife to continue in the Senate would preserve her late husband’s “legacy and aspirations.”
However, this sentiment has been met with sharp criticism from the Nigerian public, who have taken to social media to voice their objections.
Many Nigerians argue that the Senate is not a family inheritance to be passed down like a legacy and that political offices should be earned through democratic processes rather than familial ties.
Social media users highlighted the undemocratic nature of such appeals, contending that leadership positions should be awarded based on qualifications, experience, and the will of the electorate, not on family relationships.
Some pointed out that Nigeria’s political landscape is already too heavily influenced by dynastic succession, where political positions are seen as family heirlooms, leading to a lack of genuine representation for the people.
One user tweeted, “The Senate is not a family business; let the people of Anambra South choose their representative in a free election. The legacy here should be about democracy, not family ties.”
Another noted, “Our senators should be chosen by the people, not passed down like a throne. This mindset is a disservice to the democratic process.”
“What Ali Ndume is saying categorically is that senators are dumb, the position is a compensation and not a duty to serve”, Tweeted another user.
Godbles82 wrote, “We seriously need to look at a review in the Constitution. People like Ndume shouldn’t return to the Senate. He has turned it into a Private business.”
Dalabi tweeted, “Una don turn senate house to family affairs. Like there is no other person. Una go use the future of Nigerians as compensation among una self.”
“They are gradually turning Nigeria into a monarchy system. First, it was Seyi Tinubu, now it’s Ubah’s Widow. Clowns at the helm of affairs.”, said another Nigerian.
Another user wrote, “It’s really bizarre to reduce democratic governance to a pedestrian inheritance level where the Nigeria Constitution has provided methods for elective offices…this whimsical remark by a Legislator highlights the bane of development in the country…let her contest for the seat.”
Others referenced similar cases in Nigeria’s political history, where family members have succeeded deceased relatives in office, describing it as a practice that further alienates ordinary citizens from the governance process.
Ndume’s comparison of Ubah’s widow to instances where other family members joined the Senate, such as Margery Okadigbo after her husband’s death, and references to figures like Abdulaziz Yar’Adua and Iyabo Obasanjo, have only intensified the debate on social media, with many condemning such political practices as anti-democratic.
The growing public outcry reflects a broader dissatisfaction with what many perceive as a political culture that prioritizes family ties over merit.
Many Nigerians believe that perpetuating political dynasties goes against the principles of a democratic society, where every candidate should earn their position through the support and mandate of the electorate.
