Hon. Chief Kevin Tobias Chukwu, the NDC candidate for the Ezza South/Ikwo Federal Constituency in the 2027 House of Representatives election, has responded to comments attributed to the incumbent lawmaker, Rt. Hon. Chinedu Ogah, saying the forthcoming election should be decided by the people and not reduced to a personal contest between the two politicians.
Chukwu, who described Ogah as his brother, said he respects the lawmaker’s decision to seek another term but equally has the constitutional and democratic right to present himself as an alternative to the electorate.
According to him, neither he nor Ogah will determine the outcome of the election, stressing that the ultimate decision belongs to the people of Ezza South and Ikwo.
On the issue of Ogah seeking another term in the House, Chukwu acknowledged that there is no constitutional two-term limit for members of the House of Representatives.
He, however, argued that after eight years in office, Ogah’s record should be placed before the electorate for assessment, alongside the alternative he is offering.
“After eight years of representing Ezza South/Ikwo Federal Constituency, our people equally have the right to examine his record and decide whether they want another four years of the same representation or whether the time has come for a fresh direction,” Chukwu said.
The NDC candidate also challenged Ogah’s claim that he defeated him in his polling unit during the 2019 and 2023 elections.
Chukwu explained that he was not Ogah’s opponent during those elections but instead supported his candidacy and worked towards his victories.
“You cannot defeat someone who was working for your victory,” he said, adding that the circumstances would be different in 2027 because both men would be seeking the same mandate.
Chukwu also questioned a claim attributed to Ogah that about 15 people from his village, Enyim Agalagu, secured federal employment through the lawmaker’s intervention.
He said he made enquiries in the community but could not identify anyone who received such employment through Ogah’s intervention.
He consequently challenged the lawmaker to publish the names of the alleged beneficiaries and the federal establishments where they were employed, promising to publicly acknowledge and commend him if the claim is verified.
On the 500KVA transformer reportedly attracted to Ukwuinyinma Village, Chukwu acknowledged that the transformer exists but questioned whether it has ever supplied electricity to the community.
He maintained that meaningful representation should be measured by the impact of projects on residents, rather than simply by the presence of infrastructure.
Chukwu further addressed the N150,000 financial assistance he previously received from Ogah, confirming that the lawmaker once assisted him after he sought help during a difficult financial period.
He said the assistance was appreciated but should not be interpreted as political sponsorship or as giving Ogah ownership over his political future.
According to him, constituents should remain free to support, disagree with or challenge their elected representatives politically regardless of assistance they may have received.
The NDC candidate also defended his ability to speak Hausa, describing his linguistic and social connections across different parts of Nigeria as an advantage that could help him build relationships and attract opportunities for the constituency if elected.
Chukwu said his campaign would focus on education, employment, agriculture and agro-processing, electricity, infrastructure, youth and women empowerment, healthcare, legislation, oversight and constituency representation.
He accepted Ogah’s challenge to present his manifesto to the electorate, saying he would take his programme to the people “community by community and ward by ward.”
Chukwu also called for a peaceful and issue-based campaign, insisting that the election should focus on records, ideas, capacity and the future of the constituency.
“I don’t want this election to become a personal war between Chinedu Ogah and Kevin Tobias Chukwu,” he said.
The candidate stressed that he had previously supported Ogah’s elections but now believes the people deserve an opportunity to consider a different direction.
“Chinedu is my brother today and will remain my brother after the election,” he said, adding that seeking the mandate of the people against a former political ally “is not enmity. That is democracy.”
Chukwu concluded by declaring that he is not contesting merely to participate but to win the mandate of the people and provide what he described as a fresh direction in representation.
He urged both camps to allow the electorate to make the final decision through the ballot, promising to respect whatever legitimate choice the people of Ezza South/Ikwo make in 2027.
