The demand for sustained accountability between elected representatives and their constituents took centre stage as the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) candidate for Ebonyi North Senatorial District, High Chief Chikodili Ojimba, sought the backing of Ebonyi indigenes resident in Lagos ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Ojimba, who spoke during the general meeting of the Association of Izhi Nnodo Clan of Nigeria (AICON) at Ebonyi House, Maryland, Ikeja, Lagos, said representation should not end with the casting of ballots but must involve continuous interaction between office holders and the people they represent.
He led a delegation of APGA stakeholders, including the party’s candidate for Ebonyi/Ohaukwu Federal Constituency, Chief Tochukwu Ogalegu, popularly known as T-Man, to the meeting as part of their consultations with Ebonyi communities outside the state.
The candidates’ visit was disclosed in a statement issued by AICON Secretary, Moses Onyibe.
Ojimba told the gathering that constituents should feel empowered to demand explanations from their representatives on their programmes, performance, relationships and responsibilities in office.
He also pledged to maintain regular contact with the Izhi community if elected, saying the concerns of constituents would remain central to his representation.
The APGA candidate, who identified himself as a trader, commended members of the Izhi community for their contributions to commerce, investment and the development of Ebonyi State, describing them as important stakeholders in the state’s political and economic affairs.
He further disclosed that APGA had adopted the candidacy of Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru, while urging voters to examine the records of politicians seeking their support.
Ojimba said political participation should go beyond elections, arguing that citizens must remain engaged with elected officials after handing them their mandate.
Ogalegu, in his remarks, said he and Ojimba had built records of community service before venturing into elective politics, adding that their experiences outside government would influence their approach to public office.
He urged voters to assess candidates beyond party affiliations, maintaining that public office should be centred on service rather than personal enrichment.
But the engagement also provided an opportunity for the diaspora community to place its own expectations before the aspirants.
AICON President, Comrade Clement Nwego, welcomed the candidates’ decision to consult the association but warned that such relationships should not disappear after elections.
Nwego recalled instances in which politicians supported by members of the association allegedly became inaccessible after securing office, saying the experience had fuelled concerns among members.
He urged political aspirants to regard Ebonyi communities outside the state as partners in governance and not simply as electoral constituencies to be courted during campaigns.
The AICON president also disclosed that the association had begun mobilising its members to register or transfer their Permanent Voter Cards to Ebonyi State ahead of the 2027 elections.
He urged members to participate actively in the electoral process and scrutinise candidates on the basis of their records, programmes and commitment to public welfare.
The meeting ended with goodwill messages and prayers from AICON elders and traditional leaders, including HRH Eze Cyprian Nweke, Eze Izzi Gbirim and Chief Boniface Okpete.
The encounter thus shifted the focus of the Ebonyi North contest beyond campaign promises, with accountability, accessibility and the political participation of Ebonyi indigenes in Lagos emerging as key issues in the candidates’ engagement with the diaspora community.
