2027: ‘My Only Godfather Is the People’ — NDC Reps Candidate, Agwu Declares

..,…As Afikpo/Edda federal constituency hopeful promises quarterly town hall meetings, youth empowerment, healthcare support, if elected.

By Uchenna Okeh, Abakaliki 

The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate for Afikpo/Edda Federal Constituency in Ebonyi State for the 2027 general election, Chief Agwu Amah Agwu, has declared that his ambition to represent the constituency in the House of Representatives is driven by the people’s demand for accountable leadership, insisting that he has no political godfather to serve.

Agwu, a chartered accountant, entrepreneur and business analyst popularly known as Triple A, said his decision to leave his thriving private business for partisan politics was informed by what he described as years of inadequate representation, poor accountability and unfulfilled promises to the people of Afikpo and Edda.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with journalists, the NDC candidate described the 2027 election as a contest between godfatherism and what he termed “people-ism,” arguing that elected representatives should be accountable to their constituents rather than political benefactors.

He said his emergence as the party’s candidate was not a personal triumph but a collective call to service by market women, youths, farmers, elders and other stakeholders who, according to him, urged him to offer himself for public service.

“I feel humbled, and I feel the weight of responsibility. I give thanks to God, our great party, the NDC, and the market women, youths, elders and farmers who whispered, shouted and prayed for this moment.

“I did not emerge because I have a godfather in Abakaliki or Abuja. I emerged because the people are my godfather. I have no one to settle and no cabal to service. My only debt is to the people,” he said.

Addressing the electorate, Agwu promised to make the interests of Afikpo/Edda a priority if elected, stressing that legislative representation should go beyond election campaigns and occasional visits to constituents.

According to him, he would establish quarterly town hall meetings in Afikpo and Edda to provide opportunities for constituents to question him, assess his performance and make their concerns known.

“For too long, we have voted for people who answer to one man, not to all of us. That is why they disappear after elections. If you give me your mandate, I will not disappear. I will return every three months for a town hall meeting to give an account of my stewardship,” he said.

The candidate also promised to pursue what he described as practical empowerment programmes rather than token distributions, pledging to support youths and women with business grants, working tools and skills development opportunities.

He said his proposed programme would target 1,000 youths and women within his first two years in office, adding that beneficiaries would not be required to belong to any political party.

Agwu further pledged to organise free medical outreaches across the constituency, support scholarships for indigent but academically promising students and advocate assistance for farmers to improve agricultural productivity and livelihoods.

On infrastructure, he promised to use his position, if elected, to advocate improved electricity supply, potable water, better roads and functional schools, including renewed attention to the Amasiri Power Project.

He urged voters not to exchange their votes for short-term financial inducements, arguing that the future of the constituency depended on electing representatives capable of advancing sustainable development.

“Our people should not sell their future for N2,000. They should vote for electricity that will allow their children to read, hospitals that work and opportunities for their sons and daughters to earn a living,” he said.

Explaining why he believes Afikpo/Edda has not received adequate representation, Agwu identified political godfatherism, the alleged absence of elected representatives from their constituencies, limited public understanding of legislative responsibilities and poor accountability as factors contributing to the situation.

He argued that representatives who depend heavily on political benefactors could face pressure to prioritise the interests of those benefactors over the needs of their constituents.

“When a representative is installed by one godfather, his loyalty may be directed towards that individual instead of the people. I have no godfather to settle and no such political debt. My responsibility will be to the people who elected me,” he said.

Agwu also addressed concerns about his grassroots connections, insisting that his relationship with the constituency predates his political ambition.

He cited his alleged financial assistance to residents during the COVID-19 pandemic and flooding incidents, as well as his participation in community events, including burials, marriages and New Yam festivals, as evidence of his longstanding engagement with the people.

“My relationship with the people is not based on photographs taken during election campaigns. During COVID-19, when many people were struggling, I supported residents with my personal resources. I have remained connected to the community even when there was no election,” he said.

The NDC candidate said he was persuaded to contest by residents who approached him over concerns about electricity, unemployment and the perceived neglect of their communities.

According to him, market women, youths, elders, traditional rulers and community leaders encouraged him to enter the race, believing that his professional background and private-sector experience could be deployed to address their challenges.

“I was dragged into politics, but not by one man. I was dragged by the people. I was in business, quietly paying school fees and helping where I could, but people kept asking me to speak for them.

“I am not running to make a name or accumulate wealth. I am running to build a bridge between Afikpo/Edda and Abuja,” he said.

On healthcare, Agwu outlined a proposed 100-day action plan that includes free medical outreaches across the constituency’s wards, advocacy for the upgrading of primary healthcare centres and collaboration with the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and non-governmental organisations to improve healthcare facilities.

He also pledged to pursue the provision of solar power and essential medicines for primary healthcare centres and advocate the enrolment of 2,000 indigent women and elderly residents in health insurance schemes.

The candidate, however, would need to work with relevant government agencies and development partners to implement the proposed interventions, particularly those requiring federal funding, institutional approvals and intergovernmental collaboration.

Agwu extended an olive branch to his political opponents, urging them to conduct issue-based campaigns and avoid personal attacks as the 2027 election approaches.

He challenged other aspirants to present their records of service to the electorate, saying voters deserved to evaluate candidates on the basis of their contributions to education, healthcare and community development.

“We are not enemies; we are brothers. Let us campaign on our records, not insults. Tell the people what you have done with your personal resources before asking for their votes. 

“How many school fees have you paid? How many hospital bills have you cleared? I have my record. Let others bring theirs,” he said.

On Governor Francis Nwifuru’s second-term ambition, Agwu said re-election should not be treated as automatic, arguing that the governor’s performance, maintenance of peace and investment in human capital development should inform the electorate’s decision.

He nevertheless said he would respect and cooperate with whoever the people of Ebonyi State elect in accordance with the law.

Reacting to reports of an alleged threat to remove local government chairmen who fail to deliver votes for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 elections, Agwu said elected local government officials should be assessed on their performance in office rather than their ability to secure electoral victories for a political party.

“If he truly said that, then he did not speak well. A good governor should encourage local government chairmen to deliver good governance, not deliver a political party by force. Ebonyi should be known for free and fair elections,” he said.

He referred to Section 7(1) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, and the Supreme Court’s July 11, 2024, judgment on local government autonomy in arguing that elected local government councils should be protected from arbitrary dissolution.

The precise constitutional implications of the reported statement would, however, depend on the circumstances and applicable legal provisions.

Agwu concluded by calling on the people of Afikpo/Edda to demand measurable commitments from all candidates, insisting that the 2027 election should be about development, accountability and the future of the constituency rather than political loyalty to individual power brokers.

He said his ambition was to build a system in which constituents could regularly question their representative, monitor the implementation of campaign promises and participate more actively in decisions affecting their communities.