CALABAR — A House of Representatives aspirant for Etung/Obubra Federal Constituency, Obah Edom Tawo, has taken a swipe at incumbent political office holders, saying while they may possess financial strength, their performance records remain open to public scrutiny NEGROIDHAVEN has garnered.
Tawo, who is contesting on the platform of the African Democratic Congress, stated this during an interaction with journalists, where he addressed concerns about his chances against established political figures.
According to him, the power to determine electoral outcomes ultimately rests with the people, not incumbents, stressing that voters must evaluate leaders based on their track record in office.
“The incumbents have money, they have power, but they also have something very real — they have a record, and a bad record,” he said.
He argued that it does not take much for constituents to assess whether their current representatives have delivered on expectations, adding that widespread dissatisfaction with governance presents an opportunity for change.
The aspirant maintained that his campaign is focused on mobilising citizens to recognise their collective power and demand accountability from those in leadership positions.
Tawo also used the occasion to outline key challenges facing Etung/Obubra, including poor road infrastructure, limited access to healthcare, and underutilisation of agricultural resources, which he said continue to hinder development in the area.
He pledged to prioritise policies that would improve road connectivity, strengthen access to medical services, and promote local industrialisation, particularly in cassava and cocoa value chains, to create employment opportunities for youths.
On legislative strategy, Tawo emphasised the need for collaboration with relevant committees and federal agencies to attract development projects to the constituency, while also proposing mechanisms to enhance transparency.
He said his plans include establishing a public-facing platform to track constituency projects and organising regular town hall meetings to keep constituents informed and engaged.
Highlighting his background, Tawo described himself as an information technology professional and entrepreneur with experience in building and managing businesses, noting that these skills position him to deliver effective representation.
He added that trust between leaders and citizens should be seen as a “conditional contract,” where elected officials are held accountable based on their performance.
The aspirant expressed confidence that with increased voter awareness and participation, the 2027 elections would reflect the true will of the people in Etung/Obubra Federal Constituency.
