The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) House of Assembly candidate for Ohaji/Egbema State Constituency in the 2027 elections, Comrade John Nwulu, has accused the Imo State Government of abandoning the people of the area since Governor Hope Uzodimma assumed office.
Nwulu made the allegation during a media interaction with practicing journalists from Ohaji/Egbema in Owerri, where he attributed what he described as the poor treatment of the area to alleged hatred by the state government.
He said the oil-producing local government area supported Uzodimma during the governorship election but questioned why the people had allegedly been repaid with what he described as abandonment.
Nwulu, who is contesting the Ohaji/Egbema State Constituency seat, lamented the lack of motorable roads, electricity, and functional projects across communities in the area.
He said he joined the 2027 race to, among other things, improve what he described as the battered image of the area and provide effective representation for the people if elected.
The PDP candidate also accused the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led governments at the state and local government levels of failing the people of the oil-producing council area.
Nwulu described the situation as an ‘abysmal failure’ on the part of the APC, saying it was unacceptable for an oil-producing local government to lack good roads connecting its communities and villages.
According to him, Ohaji/Egbema has no serving commissioner in the current administration, while the position of Managing Director of the Imo State Oil Producing Area Development Commission (ISOPADEC), which he said should be reserved for oil-producing communities, had allegedly been given to an area he claimed had no connection with oil production.
He said, ‘Today no single project has been attracted to the area by the present government. Going to Owerri from Mmahu, the council headquarters of Ohaji/Egbema, you are bound to spend a number of hours. This is the same thing to the road from Umuapu/Ilile/Umuokanne, amongst other communities in the council.’
Nwulu promised to work with leaders and other stakeholders in the constituency to attract infrastructure, including roads, electricity, and healthcare facilities; create jobs; and promote education if elected.
The former ISOPADEC Youth President of Ohaji/Egbema also expressed concern over what he described as the failure of the people to benefit from ISOPADEC and Adapalm funds.
He pledged to work towards ensuring that the people of the area benefited from the funds.
Nwulu also expressed concern over the state of public infrastructure across the local government, saying poverty and hardship had persisted despite the area’s oil and gas resources.
He urged residents to remain peaceful and law-abiding.
The PDP candidate said he would also address insecurity through what he described as good leadership and create employment opportunities by improving social infrastructure.
He appealed to the people to support his candidacy and elect him to the State Assembly in 2027, promising to represent their interests.
He said: ‘When I win, I will graciously and cordially work with the leaders of Ohaji/Egbema and other relevant stakeholders to restore ISOPADEC, revive Adapalm, attract functional infrastructure in the Constituency to strengthen productivity and resourcefulness, thereby boost collective economic prosperity.
Nwulu said he had the democratic and leadership experience as well as the communal understanding required to represent the people of Ohaji/Egbema.
He also called for greater partnership with the media and supported the idea of organizing a political debate for all candidates contesting the constituency’s 2027 election.
According to him, the debate would provide an opportunity for candidates to explain their programs to the people and enable residents to assess their plans and capacity.