The people of Afikpo/Edda federal constituency, Ebonyi State, have warned aspirants for various positions and politicians from the zone to restore power supply to the area or forget about the 2027 election.
A coalition of civil rights groups in the constituency tabled the demand to political office holders from the area, including the member representing Afikpo/Edda Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Chief Iduma Igariwey, the Deputy Governor, Princess Patricia Obila, members in the State Assembly and other politicians and aspirants.
The groups, Afikpo Intelligentsia in the Diaspora, AID), RestoreAfikpoLight Campaigners Abroad and Odinma Afikpo Group, OAG, made the demand while reacting to a statement recently credited to Igariwey in which he maintained that it is not the responsibility of lawmakers to fund power projects.
The lawmaker said the online criticisms that have trailed the over two decades of darkness particularly in his ancient Ehugbo community were borne out of ignorance.
Leaders of the groups, Charles Otu, representing Odinma Afikpo Group, Olughu Franklin Nnamdi, Afikpo Intelligentsia in the Diaspora, and Collins Alum Eze, RestoreAfikpoLight Campaigners Abroad, noted that the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the Electricity Act 2023, and the Electricity Act (Amendment) 2025 gave federal lawmakers some ample and adequate tools to force action from those who can generate electricity.
The groups expressed concern that for over 20 years, there has been no electricity in Afikpo LGA, noting that the lawmaker, Igariwey ought to have moved a Motion of Urgent Public Importance on the floor of the House of Representatives concerning the issue.
Parts of the statement read, “We strongly commend him however that in the year 2020, our lawmaker, the same Hon. Igariwey, had caused an appearance to be made before the House Committee on Power, summoning the leadership of the Transmission Company of Nigeria, (TCN) to a public hearing wherein he poured out the anger and frustration of his constituents over the nearly two decades of darkness in his community.
“However, we were thoroughly disappointed that nearly six years after the 2020 ‘summon’ of TCN, no words have ever come from the lawmaker regarding a follow up on the darkness that has become a deeply growing concern among his constituents he has represented for about 12 unbroken years.
“Anticipatedly, the people of Afikpo and Edda which are both highly urban with many educated elites and personalities had long waited patiently that since 2015 when _Okpudo_ as Igariwey is favouritely called ought to have inserted a specific line item for the Amasiri-Afikpo transmission line in the Appropriation Bill and follow up same until the money is released and spent.
“He could have also filed formal petitions to NERC and the Rural Electrification Agency to put Afikpo on the priority list. We believe, contrary to Igariwey’s posturings, that these are all within his constitutional powers of representation, oversight and appropriation especially within the powers of a ranking lawmaker like him who surely knows his way in and out of the National Assembly.
“As a coalition, we rightly insist and agree with those who have argued that after 12 whopping years in the House, Afikpo deserves the full weight of Okpudo’s legislative office and actions – not just appeals behind closed doors, but motions on record, committee hearings, and budget insertions that compel federal agencies to answer in public.
“Rather, what we have witnessed in return is the unarguable fact that the lawmaker has totally avoided all foras called by the people for him to give account of his stewardship on the pressing subject matter like other politicians had done in the past.”
20 years of darkness: Ebonyi community declares ‘no light, no campaigns’
