By Tony Ezike
As political discussions intensify ahead of the 2027 elections, attention is increasingly shifting from personal preference for senatorial candidates to the more consequential question of which candidate possesses the political access, legislative experience, institutional knowledge and capacity to secure meaningful representation and tangible benefits for the constituency.
Against this backdrop, the candidacy of Senator Uche Ekwunife has continued to attract attention, particularly because of her previous experience in the National Assembly and her record of occupying strategic committee leadership positions.
The argument for her candidacy goes beyond party affiliation. It is based largely on the proposition that political access matters in determining how effectively a senator can navigate the complex structures of the National Assembly and engage the executive arm of government on issues affecting the constituency.
The current composition of the 10th Senate provides an illustration of why political numbers can matter. Following defections, court decisions and changes in the composition of the chamber, the All Progressives Congress has maintained a commanding majority in the Senate, with 73 of the 109 seats at one point, while the Peoples Democratic Party had 28 seats and other parties shared the remaining 8 seats.
Such numerical strength gives the governing party considerable influence over the legislative process and other matters requiring Senate consideration. However, political observers note that party affiliation alone does not guarantee committee leadership, federal interventions or constituency development. This is because the capacity of individual lawmakers to operate effectively within the system remains critical.
It is in this regard that Senator Ekwunife’s legislative experience becomes particularly relevant. During the 8th Senate, she chaired the Senate Committee on Downstream Petroleum, one of the strategically important committees of the National Assembly. Her tenure in that position was subsequently affected by the court judgment that nullified her election.
Her experience in committee leadership was, however, not an isolated occurrence. Upon her return to the Senate in the 9th National Assembly, she chaired the Senate Committee on Science and Technology, later associated with the broader Science, Technology and Innovation portfolio. This is in addition to the various other strategic committee responsibilities entrusted to her throughout her years of service in the National Assembly.
Her record therefore presents her not merely as a former occupant of a Senate seat, but as a legislator with experience in committee leadership, legislative oversight and engagement with government institutions. For the constituency, this distinction is very significant.
A senator who already understands the internal workings of the National Assembly, the committee system and the processes through which legislation and oversight are conducted has a different starting advantage from those who are not as equipped or others still learning the institutional terrain.
The question, therefore, is whether the electorate should approach the senatorial contest merely from the standpoint of personal preference or consider which candidate is better positioned to maximise the opportunities available to the constituency.
Political influence, however, should not be regarded as an end in itself. Its real value lies in what it produces for the people. Committee positions, political relationships and access to government institutions become meaningful only when they are translated into effective representation, appropriate federal interventions, constituency projects, opportunities and improved welfare. This is where Senator Ekwunife’s previous experience provides a basis for assessment.
Rather than asking only, “Who is my preferred candidate?”, voters may also wish to ask a broader question: “Who has the experience, political access, legislative competence and institutional capacity to give our constituency the strongest voice in the 11th Senate?” In fact this should be a priority consideration for the electorate voting in Anambra Central Senatorial District.
For a good committee leadership position in the 11th Senate, voters can assess the candidates on the basis of their established records and demonstrated capacities so they can vote to secure a Senate Principal Officer. For Senator Ekwunife, her previous committee leadership in two different Senate assemblies, combined with her familiarity with the workings of the National Assembly, provides a compelling basis for consideration.
It is important to recognise that Senator Uche Ekwunife did not receive the national honour of CON, prestigious fellowship awards from respected institutions, traditional titles and numerous other meritorious recognitions simply for the sake of recognition.
Such honours are not ordinarily conferred without reasons. They reflect a record of service, impact, leadership and contributions acknowledged by different institutions and communities. As the saying goes, there is no smoke without fire.
Ultimately, the choice before the electorate is not simply about party colours or personal sentiments. It is about positioning the constituency to derive the greatest possible benefit from its representation at the federal level. And this can only be achieved by electing a ranking Senator who has consistently lived up to expectations in both securing juicy positions and delivering quality representation.
And for voters seeking to make an informed decision, the critical considerations remain clear: political access matters, numbers matter, committee positions matter, experience matters and legislative competence matters. Above all, however, the ability to convert those advantages into meaningful results for the people remains the ultimate measure of representation.
