The immediate past Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Ndudi Godwin Elumelu, OON, on Wednesday continued his consultation and interactive engagements with Executives of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Aniocha South Local Government Area as he visited the Aniocha South APC Chairman, Hon. Norbert Akachukwu, alongside members of the Local Government Area and Ward Executives of the party.
The meeting, which held at the APC Secretariat in Ogwashi-Uku, was part of Elumelu’s ongoing consultations with party officials across the federal constituency ahead of his declaration of intention to seek the party’s ticket to contest the Aniocha Oshimili Federal Constituency seat in the House of Representatives in the 2027 general elections.
The visit created an atmosphere of excitement at the party secretariat as party executives and members gathered to receive and interact with the former Minority Leader.
He was accompanied by members of the Rt. Hon. Ndudi Godwin Elumelu Campaign Organization led by its Chairman, Chief Ewin Uzoh.
Elumelu used the opportunity of the interactive session to give account of his stewardship during his tenure in the House of Representatives by presenting achievements including programmes, legacy infrastructural projects and legislative activities he facilitated while representing Aniocha Oshimili Federal Constituency.
He highlighted various infrastructure and empowerment initiatives which helped to position the constituency prominently among federal constituencies in Nigeria during the period of his representation.
Elumelu also formally informed the Aniocha South APC Chairman as well as the Local Government and Ward Executives of his intention to seek their support and mandate to fly the flag of the APC for the Aniocha/Oshimili Federal Constituency seat in the forthcoming general election.
He explained that his decision to return to the contest was informed by some worrisome developments within the constituency and the need to restore its previous level of influence and visibility at the National Assembly.
He noted that the constituency once occupied a prominent position in terms of legislative leadership, national relevance and constituency development, but that such standing had diminished in recent years.
According to him, the situation made it imperative for committed leadership to work towards attracting federal opportunities and development programmes back to the constituency for the benefit of the people.
Elumelu further emphasized the importance of consultation with party executives at the grassroots, describing the Local Government and Ward Executives as critical stakeholders in the nomination process. He noted that with the provisions of the Electoral Act which recognise consensus and direct primaries, party officials and members across the wards and local government areas play a decisive role in shaping the party’s electoral choices.
He therefore sought the support and approval of the Aniocha South APC leadership to enable him continue his consultations with party leaders and stakeholders in the remaining local government areas within the federal constituency.
Responding on behalf of the Aniocha South APC Chairman, LGA and Ward Executives, the Party Chairman in the area, Hon. Norbert Akachukwu, expressed appreciation to Elumelu for the consultative visit and acknowledged his experience and contributions to the political development of the constituency.
Akachukwu noted that Elumelu’s record of service to Aniocha/ Oshimili Federal Constituency, particularly in areas of constituency development and empowerment is widely known among party members and the general public. He stated that the party and the people of the constituency always desired quality representation capable of delivering meaningful development and strengthening the voice of the constituency at the national level.
He also commended Elumelu for maintaining strong ties with the party structure and for recognising the importance of engaging the grassroots leadership in matters relating to party decisions and electoral processes.
The meeting also witnessed expressions of appreciation from councillors of Aniocha South Local Government who commended Elumelu for his past support to local government legislators. The councillors recalled his role in among other things, facilitating a structured capacity-building programme for councillors from the four local government areas of the constituency during his tenure as Minority Leader of the House of Representatives.
They described the initiative as a significant intervention that contributed to strengthening legislative knowledge and leadership capacity among councillors within the constituency.
Party officials at the meeting reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring an open and inclusive process for all aspirants seeking the party’s ticket for the Aniocha/Oshimili Federal Constituency seat as preparations continue ahead of the next general election.
