ADC Rivers Assembly candidate pledges people-driven representation

Emmanuel Nlewedum, Port Harcourt

The African Democratic Congress, ADC, candidate for Rivers State House of Assembly, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni, ONELGA Constituency 1, in the 2027 general elections, Engr. Masi Prince Ernest, has unveiled his legislative blueprint, pledging to redefine representation through people-driven governance if elected.

Ernest stated this in Port Harcourt during a chat with journalists at the 2nd Distinguished Annual Lecture in honour of Engr. Beniah Elemchukwu Ojum, organised by the Port Harcourt Chapter of the Nigerian Institution of Civil Engineers, NICE.

He said his ambition is to change the dynamics of politics in ONELGA by institutionalising regular engagement with constituents through town hall meetings, a practice he noted has been largely absent.

According to him, his representation will be anchored on two cardinal innovations: the Constituency Parliament and the Constituency Trust Fund. He explained that the Constituency Parliament will serve as a regular platform where constituents deliberate on development priorities, while the Trust Fund will manage funds allocated for constituency projects to ensure transparency and accountability.

“The Trust Fund will manage constituency project funds. If I am given one million naira for a constituency project, I will not implement it based on what I think is right for the people. I would rather ask the people what they think is best for them. The money will be transferred to the Trust Fund, and the Fund will manage it, not me. It is high time we put an end to representatives carting away money meant for the people,” he said.

On priority legislative interventions, the Assembly hopeful listed pension reform and land grabbing as major challenges confronting Rivers State. He lamented that retirees wait years to receive pensions and gratuities, a situation he said encourages corruption in service.

“Everybody is affected by pension reform in Rivers State. My mother-in-law just got her pension and gratuity paid after over eight years of retirement. We should reform the system so that those who have given their time and life to the system don’t struggle when they leave,” he said.

On land grabbing, which he described as a growing menace, Ernest proposed a comprehensive law and the establishment of a special court to handle land-related offences, with stiffer penalties for offenders who sell land to multiple buyers.

“Anybody who signs a deed two times, sells to one person and sells again to another, should go to 10 years imprisonment without an option of fine. Until we push for stringent conditions, land grabbing will continue. This bill will protect both landowners and buyers,” he said.

He also advocated reform of the secondary education system to align learning with students’ cognitive and psychomotor strengths, noting that skill acquisition programmes must be complemented with proper orientation and mindset change to achieve sustainable impact.

On the 2027 general elections, Ernest urged Rivers people to reject godfatherism and embrace issue-based campaigns anchored on performance and intellectual capacity. He called on voters in ONELGA to assess representation in the last four years and give room for credible alternatives.

“The state has an opportunity to walk away from politics beholden to one man. Let us try people who can make decisions on their own. That is what ADC brings to the table,” he said.

He further urged Rivers people to support the ADC governorship candidate, Hon. Gabriel Pidomson, whom he described as intellectually sound, experienced and capable of liberating the state from political instability.

“ADC has the best candidates going into the elections. Rivers State is marred by political instability orchestrated by one man’s ambition to dominate and conquer. Instability cannot help anybody. Rivers State has an opportunity to walk away from any politician that is beholden to one man,” he added.