Profile
Sonni Ogbuoji is a Nigerian politician who served as the Senator representing Ebonyi South Senatorial District between 2011 and 2019, on the platform of People’s Democratic Party. He was the All Progressives Congress’ candidate for the 2019 Ebonyi State gubernatorial elections.
Personal Life
He was born on 29th September 1954, to the family of Mr Ogbu Nnachi Oji and Mrs May Mai Oji of Ebunwana, Afipo South (Edda) LGA, Ebonyi State. He is married to Scholastica Ugo Ogbuoji and they have two sons. Ogbuoji enjoys playing tennis, travelling and reading.
Education
| School | Qualification | Year |
| University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State | B.Sc Agriculture | 1976-1981 |
| Government College Umuahia, Abia State | Senior Secondary School Certificate | 1971-1975 |
| Edda Central School, Ebonyi Central | First School Leaving Certificate | 1964-1970 |
Work History
| Place | Position | Date |
| Nigerian Geological Survey Agency | Board member | |
| Nigerian Shippers’ Council | Board member | |
| Ebonyi State Secondary, Ebonyi State | Chairman, Education Board | 2003-2006 |
Edda, Ebonyi State
29th September 1954
Ebonyi State
All Progressives Congress
Christianity
Senator, representing Ebonyi South Senatorial District (2011-2019)
Local Government Chairman of Afikpo LGA
Political History
Ogbuoji was elected as the Local Government Chairman of Afikpo local government area during the military regime before the start of the Nigerian Fourth Republic.
Under the administration of Governor Martin Elechi, starting in 2007, Ogbuoji was the Commissioner for Economic Empowerment and Poverty Reduction. In November 2010, he resigned from this post. Ogbuoji also served as the Ebonyi State Coordinator for the Goodluck/Sambo presidential campaign in 2011.
In 2011, Ogbuoji ran for the senatorial seat representing Ebonyi South Senatorial District, on the People’s Democratic Party platform, and emerged the winner. He was re-elected to the Nigerian Senate in 2015. During this time, he served as the Vice-Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriation and the Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Special Duties.
Following Ogbuoji’s defection to the All Progressives Congress in 2018, and the backlash he received from the People’s Democratic Party, he was sacked from the Senate.
In 2019, Ogbuoji contested for the governorship seat of Ebonyi State on the ticket of the All Progressives Congress. He was defeated by the incumbent governor, David Umahi, who received 393,343 votes compared to Ogbuoji’s 81,703 votes.
Leadership Style/Philosophy
Awards & Honours
- Vocational Service Award by Rotary Club of Afikpo
- Merit Award by Nigerian Institute of Animal Science
- Fellow of Technology, Akanu Ibiam Federal Polytechnic, Unwana
- Award of Excellence by National Association of Imo State Students
- Merit Award by Animal Science Association of Nigeria
Project
- Supervised the construction and stocking of 35 catfish ponds in an effort to provide youth empowerment
- Provision of the solar-powered borehole in Ohaozara LGA, Ebonyi
- Donation of computers to secondary schools in Ebonyi South
- Construction of classroom blocks in primary schools
- Construction of primary health care in Mgbalaukwu, Onicha LGA
- Sponsored the Nigerian Agricultural Quarantine (Establishment) Bill, 2015 which has been signed by the President into law.
- Attracted projects to educational institutions (Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ikwo; College of Agriculture, Ishiagu; Akanu Ibiam Polytechnics; Federal School of Transport Technology, Edda)
Criticism/Controversy
Following Ogbuoji’s defection to All Progressives Congress in 2018, some members of PDP, in Ebonyi South Senatorial Zone sued him, urging the court to declare his senatorial seat at the National Assembly vacant. In 2019, a Federal High Court sitting in Abakaliki sacked him from office, declared his seat vacant and ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission to conduct a fresh election with immediate effect. The court held that by defecting from the party under which he was elected, Ogbuoji flouted section 68 (1)g of the 1999 constitution:
- A member of the Senate or House of Representatives shall vacate his seat in the house if being a person whose election to the house was sponsored by another political party.
- The person shall vacate his seat if he becomes a member of another political party before the expiration of the period for which he was elected.
The court also ordered the lawmaker to refund all the money or any order form of payment he received from the date of his defection, as a result of his senatorial office.
