Odita Sunday 
By Odita Sunday
The Integrity Group of Nigeria, Delta State Chapter, has thrown its weight behind the return of former Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Ndudi Elumelu, to the National Assembly, citing his experience and previous constituency interventions as reasons for its support.
The group said Elumelu remained the strongest option for effective representation of the Aniocha-Oshimili Federal Constituency in the 2027 elections, arguing that his previous record in the House provides voters with tangible achievements to assess.
Speaking on the group’s position, the Delta State Chairman of the Integrity Group of Nigeria, Dr Martin Nwachukwu Bolum, said Elumelu’s experience in federal politics, knowledge of the National Assembly and alleged contributions to infrastructure and human capital development across the constituency informed the decision.
Bolum said Elumelu’s previous representation covered the four local government areas of Aniocha North, Aniocha South, Oshimili North and Oshimili South, with projects cited in communities including Onicha-Uku, Obior, Ogwashi-Uku, Ewulu, Ejeme, Ubulu-Uku, Ubulu-Unor, Akukwu-Igbo, Ebu, Ibusa, Idumuje-Unor and Idumuje-Ugboko.
“We are supporting Ndudi Elumelu because of his record, experience and capacity. He has represented this constituency before, and the evidence of that representation can be seen in communities across the four local areas,” Bolum said.
He listed roads, electricity projects, water schemes, healthcare facilities, ICT centres, vocational centres, town halls, civic centres and drainage projects among the interventions he attributed to Elumelu’s years in the National Assembly.
According to him, the projects cut across several sectors, including infrastructure, education, healthcare, technology, electricity and community development.
Bolum also pointed to Elumelu’s experience as a former member of the House of Representatives and subsequently as Minority Leader of the ninth National Assembly, describing the exposure as an advantage for the constituency.
“Representation at the federal level requires more than making speeches during elections. It requires understanding the budget process, legislation, oversight and how to engage federal ministries and agencies to attract development to the constituency,” he said.
The group chairman particularly highlighted ICT and vocational facilities, saying such interventions could provide young people with opportunities to acquire skills, develop businesses and participate in the digital economy.
“Today, we cannot talk about constituency development without talking about young people. The provision of ICT centres and vocational facilities gives our young people opportunities to acquire skills, develop businesses and participate in the digital economy,” Bolum said.
He said the group planned to use the projects it associated with Elumelu’s representation as part of its mobilisation ahead of the 2027 election.
“We will take the record to the people. We will identify the projects and the communities where they are located. We want the people themselves to see and assess what was done,” he said.
Bolum stressed that the group intended to focus its campaign on verifiable records rather than political rhetoric, urging voters to assess the achievements and capacity of all candidates before making their choice.
“We are going to campaign on what people can verify. We believe voters should compare the records of all the candidates and decide who has demonstrated the capacity to represent them effectively,” he said.
He also explained that constituency projects facilitated by lawmakers were implemented by relevant federal ministries, departments and agencies, stressing that legislators primarily identify community needs, facilitate their inclusion in the federal budget and provide oversight.
“What a legislator does is identify the needs of the people, facilitate their inclusion in the federal budget and provide oversight to ensure that the projects are implemented,” Bolum explained.
The chairman further expressed concern over what he described as a decline in the visibility and voice of Aniocha-Oshimili in the House of Representatives in the past three years.
According to him, the constituency had not enjoyed the level of representation and visibility he claimed it experienced during Elumelu’s tenure.
“For the past three years plus, the people of Aniocha-Oshimili have not heard the kind of strong voice they used to hear in the Green Chamber when Ndudi Elumelu was there. We have also not seen meaningful constituency projects or reasonable bills that speak directly to the needs and aspirations of our people,” he said.
Bolum, however, urged voters to independently examine the records of all aspirants before deciding who to support in 2027.
“Let the people ask: What has each candidate done? What experience does each candidate have? What can each candidate realistically deliver? When you ask those questions, you will understand why we are supporting Ndudi Elumelu,” he said.
He cited projects including an ICT centre and civic centre at Ogwashi-Uku, town halls at Ewulu and Ejeme, a civic centre at Ubulu-Uku, a vocational centre at Ubulu-Unor, as well as road, drainage, healthcare and solar street-light interventions as examples of projects associated with Elumelu’s representation.
Bolum maintained that Elumelu’s former position as Minority Leader demonstrated his ability to operate at the highest levels of legislative politics.
“That kind of experience is not something you acquire overnight. It gives the constituency an advantage because you are sending someone who already understands the system,” he said.
As the 2027 elections approach, the Integrity Group chairman said the organisation would continue to mobilise support for Elumelu, maintaining that the final decision should be based on candidates’ records, experience and capacity.
“We believe Aniocha-Oshimili deserves effective representation. We believe Ndudi Elumelu has demonstrated that capacity, and we are therefore supporting his return to the House of Representatives,” Bolum said.
He added: “Our message is simple: look at the record, look at the experience and look at what can be verified. We believe Ndudi Elumelu remains the strongest choice for Aniocha-Oshimili Federal Constituency in 2027.”
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