By Ephraim Oseji

Ebonyi State was agog on Thursday as a chieftain of Nigeria Democratic Congress(NDC), Chief Nelson Akuma formally purchased his Expression of Interest and Nomination forms to contest the Ebonyi South Senatorial seat ahead of the 2027 general elections.

He obtained the forms at the Nigeria Democratic Party’s national secretariat in Abuja amid cheers from supporters and loyalists who accompanied him to the event.

Akuma’s entrance into the race sets the stage for a political showdown in Ebonyi south, where he is seeking to unseat incumbent Senator Professor Anthony Okorie Ani of the ruling All Progressives Congress in the 10th National Assembly.

Addressing journalists shortly after obtaining the forms, Akuma said his decision to join the race was driven by a desire to provide quality representation and people-oriented leadership for constituents in Ebonyi South and beyond.

According to him, he wants to end several years of neglect by delivering what he described as true and quality representation to the people of Ebonyi South.

Speaking further, he said that the previous representation lacked impact, adding that the people of Ebonyi South did not feel the relevance of the office.

He said that it was the failure that inspired him to step forward to demonstrate what quality representation should be.

According to him, rural development, improved road infrastructure ,especially for the farming communities, security, and youth empowerment are the core pillars of his agenda.

“We must prioritize rural development and construct accessible roads for our farmers, insecurity is another critical issue and addressing youth challenges is key to solving it. I strongly believe that political office is a public trust, not a personal privilege. Our democracy works best when citizens with a genuine commitment to service step forward, offer themselves for scrutiny and seek the mandate of the people. I took this step to contribute my skills and experience to solving the problems facing our community and to give constituents a clear choice rooted in accountability, transparency and participation. I believe I am the right person for this role because my approach is grounded in democratic principles. First, I am committed to listening more than speaking. Secondly, I have a track record of integrity and follow-through in my professional and community engagements, which I intend to bring to public office.”

Akuma maintained that the challenge of under development cuts across all the communities within Ebonyi South senatorial zone and as such requires urgent intervention.

He said that Ebonyi South is suffering from several years of neglect, adding that is the reason why he decided to step forward to help to correct the anomaly.