Nwite will face Nwaebonyi, the incumbent senator, in what could become a closely watched contest for the Ebonyi North seat in the 2027 election.
By Deborah Hassan
365Daily – Polycarp Ogbonna Nwite Jnr., son of the late Senator Polycarp Ogbonna Nwite, has declared his intention to challenge the incumbent Senator representing Ebonyi North Senatorial District, Onyekachi Nwaebonyi, in the 2027 National Assembly election.
Nwite, who is the candidate of the Accord Party for the senatorial district, said his decision to enter the race was driven by a commitment to grassroots development and a desire to sustain the legacy of his late father, a former Nigerian Ambassador to Botswana and presidential aide to former President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua.
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, recently published Nwite’s name as the Accord Party candidate for Ebonyi North.
In a statement issued in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital, on Friday, Nwite said he was returning to Nigeria to offer himself for public service, stressing that his ambition was not to inherit his father’s political name but to establish his own record through service.
“My father’s life was defined by dedication to public service, integrity, and the bridges he built across communities in service to the people of Ebonyi,” he said.
“It is in that same spirit that I have returned to Nigeria to offer myself for service. My aspiration is not to merely inherit my father’s name, but to earn my own place through meaningful service, while upholding the values and principles he stood for.”
Nwite said his campaign would be anchored on integrity, humility and people-centred leadership, arguing that political representation should directly address the challenges facing constituents.
He said he was already engaging stakeholders across the five Local Government Areas that make up Ebonyi North, while also consulting allies and associates of his late father in Ebonyi State and other parts of the country.
According to him, his priorities include improved infrastructure, youth empowerment, education, healthcare delivery and the expansion of economic opportunities for constituents.
“As I begin this new chapter, I recognize that this responsibility is far greater than seeking political office. It is about serving our people,” he said.
“I, therefore, humbly seek the guidance, counsel, goodwill, and support of our elders, stakeholders, and the good people of Ebonyi North as we work together to build on the foundation that has been laid.”
Nwite, who described his late father as a pro-democracy advocate and political ally of President Bola Tinubu, said he intended to build on what he described as the elder Nwite’s commitment to grassroots development and unity in Ebonyi North.
He said his approach to leadership would focus on the welfare of constituents rather than the display of political power.
“My understanding of leadership is not about ostentation while our people continue to grapple with poverty. Leadership, by democratic ethos, must be about the people.”
“We will redefine representation in Ebonyi North — make it people-centred, empathetic, and guided by emotional intelligence in both action and utterance.”
Nwite will face Nwaebonyi, the incumbent senator, in what could become a closely watched contest for the Ebonyi North seat in the 2027 election.