A House of Representatives Candidate for the Afikpo/Edda Federal Constituency, Mr Joseph Ekuma-Nkama, has called for peace and unity among contestants from Edda Local Government area of Ebonyi ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Ekuma-Nkama, a candidate of the All Progressive Congress (NAN) made the remarks in an interview with journalists after receiving the blessing of traditional rulers of Edda on Wednesday during their new yam festival.
He expressed hope that the people would ultimately determine who represented them at the National Assembly.
Ekuma-Nkama described the event as significant, saying the blessing of traditional rulers and elders was an indication that the people and their leaders were comfortable with his aspiration.
“You know, there is nothing that you need as a man when you are aspiring for a political position or anything you want to do in life more than to receive the blessing of your fathers and traditional leaders.
“For me, this blessing signifies a lot. It sends a message to everybody that my people and their leaders are all behind me,” he said.
Ekuma-Nkama, however, said he was willing to engage other candidates from Edda who were contesting the same seat with a view to achieving consensus and presenting a common candidate from the area.
“There are three of us from Edda contesting the same position. I am contesting against Chief Eni Uduma-Chima of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Chief Agwu Amah of Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
“So, reaching out to them is part of the process. You keep engaging with the other candidates.
“If, halfway through, they accept, fine. If towards the third stage or almost at the verge of the general election they decide to step down, all good.
“But it will be good for Edda to have one candidate who will be standing for the election,” he said.
On his agenda if elected, the candidate said his priority would be to provide effective representation, support policies aimed at national development and attract more infrastructure and human-capital projects to the constituency.
He commended President Bola Tinubu’s administration for ongoing infrastructure projects in Ebonyi and the South-East, particularly road construction and rehabilitation.
Ekuma-Nkama cited the ongoing concrete road projects linking Amassiri to Okigwe, the Abakaliki-Enugu road, the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and other road projects linking Ebonyi with neighbouring states.
He also commended the Federal Government for the ongoing rehabilitation and dualisation of major roads in the South-East, saying the projects would improve transportation, stimulate economic activities and enhance security.
He added that he would soon unveil his manifesto detailing specific programmes and projects he intended to pursue for the constituency.
Ekuma-Nkama stressed that his representation would be people-driven, promising to hold quarterly stakeholder engagements with constituents to determine their priority needs.
“It wouldn’t be all about me. It’s all about what the people want. I would engage with the people every quarter to have serious stakeholder engagements.
“It wouldn’t be a case of what you want, because sometimes what you want is not what the people generally need most,” he said.
He explained that although federal lawmakers had access to constituency projects, effective representation required working with relevant ministries and agencies to attract major projects to the constituency.
The candidate pledged to maintain an open-door approach and pursue politics without bitterness or violence.
“I don’t play politics based on bitterness or violence, politics of godfatherism and the rest of the things that can be attributed to other people,” he said.
Ekuma-Nkama said his political aspiration was rooted in service, integrity and peaceful engagement, assuring constituents that their interests would remain at the centre of his representation. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
