The Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate for Ebonyi South Senatorial District in the 2027 election, Rt. Hon. Linus Abaa Okorie, has unveiled his legislative agenda, promising stronger constituency engagement, infrastructure monitoring and increased advocacy for development across the district.
Okorie made the declaration during the official flag-off of his 2027 senatorial campaign and the presentation of his manifesto, titled “The Ebonyi South People’s Mandate: From Waiting to Work — A Legislative Covenant for a Greater Ebonyi South,” at his country home in Onicha Igboeze.
The former member of the House of Representatives also called on members and supporters of the NDC to back the presidential ambition of former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi, ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
According to Okorie, effective representation at the National Assembly must be built around accessibility, accountability and regular engagement with constituents.
He said his proposed constituency office would serve as a direct channel through which residents could submit complaints, suggest community projects, access information on legitimate government opportunities, report abandoned projects and seek assistance with public services.
Ebonyi South Senatorial District comprises Afikpo, Edda, Ivo, Ohaozara and Onicha.
Okorie cautioned politicians contesting legislative positions against making promises that fall under the responsibilities of the executive arm of government.
He said a senator does not directly award road contracts or personally construct hospitals, dams, power substations and federal roads, but can influence policies, budgets and government interventions through legislative functions.
He explained that a senator could sponsor and amend legislation, raise motions on matters affecting constituents, influence national appropriations and exercise oversight over Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).
Okorie added that effective parliamentary representation could also involve attracting federal programmes, engaging development organisations and private-sector partners, and demanding accountability over delayed, abandoned or poorly executed projects.
The Ebonyi South senatorial candidate said his previous eight-year experience in the House of Representatives had prepared him for the Senate.
Okorie served in the House from 2011 to 2019, where he chaired the House Committee on Agricultural Colleges and Institutions.
He said his legislative responsibilities exposed him to lawmaking, budget processes and oversight, while he also facilitated interventions in areas including employment, education, healthcare, agriculture, electricity, empowerment and community development.
He further recalled his membership of Nigeria’s standing delegation to the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly, an inter-parliamentary platform involving lawmakers from African, Caribbean and Pacific countries and members of the European Parliament.
According to him, the experience would strengthen his ability to engage federal institutions and development partners on behalf of Ebonyi South.
“Ebonyi South must be represented by someone who can speak for our communities at home, engage institutions in Abuja, and understand how wider development partnerships can be mobilised for opportunity,” he said.
Okorie identified unemployment, limited agricultural support, healthcare challenges, inadequate infrastructure, limited business opportunities and the needs of vulnerable residents as some of the major challenges confronting communities in Ebonyi South.
He said graduates, farmers, traders, artisans, students and vulnerable families were among those facing difficulties in accessing opportunities and support.
He described his proposed approach with the slogan “Ogeruwo,” which he said represents a transition from waiting to purposeful representation and action.
He said his vision was to create a more responsive Ebonyi South where communities had a stronger voice, young people had access to opportunities, businesses could grow, farmers could prosper and vulnerable residents could receive support.
On infrastructure, Okorie said water and electricity would receive attention through legislative advocacy and engagement with relevant government institutions.
He identified Akaeze and Ishiagu among the areas facing challenges in accessing potable water, attributing some of the difficulties to geological conditions and low aquifer levels that have affected the reliability of conventional boreholes.
He promised to push for the completion and activation of existing dam projects and related water infrastructure serving affected communities.
Okorie also identified the Amasiri 2x60MVA 132/33kV Transmission Substation as one of his proposed priorities for legislative advocacy and appropriation.
He said his administration, if elected, would engage the relevant institutions, monitor budgetary provisions and follow implementation timelines until measurable progress was recorded.
The NDC candidate also recalled that, while serving in the House of Representatives, he facilitated the connection of Isu, the headquarters of Onicha Local Government Area, to the national electricity grid after years without connection.
He said his electricity advocacy would cover communities including Afikpo, Akaeze, Onicha Igboeze, Okposi, Uburu and Ugwulangwu, among others.
“Electricity should follow people and productive activity, not political influence,” he said.
Beyond electricity and water, Okorie said his legislative agenda would also focus on roads, bridges, dams, erosion control, agricultural infrastructure and abandoned federal projects across Ebonyi South.
He proposed the creation of an Ebonyi South Federal Infrastructure Priority Register to monitor federal projects across the district.
According to him, the register would identify the government agencies responsible for each project, monitor implementation status and budget history, and ensure that projects are followed beyond their initial announcement.
“We will maintain an Ebonyi South Federal Infrastructure Priority Register, identify responsible agencies, track status and budget history, and follow projects beyond the day of announcement,” he said.
Rt. Hon. Linus Abaa Okorie
Okorie urged residents of Ebonyi South to view the 2027 election as an opportunity to demand accountable, accessible and result-oriented representation at the National Assembly.
