A Call for Competence, Integrity and Effective Representation in the House of Representatives and Imo State House of Assembly

By Oblong Media Global Intelligence (OMGI)

As the 2027 general elections approach, the people of Imo State must begin a serious conversation about the calibre of individuals seeking election into the Federal House of Representatives and the Imo State House of Assembly.

For too long, our political recruitment process has been dominated by party loyalty, financial inducements, political godfatherism, sentimental attachments, token philanthropy and the distribution of patronage.

We celebrate individuals who distribute bags of rice, sponsor football tournaments, pay occasional school fees, donate motorcycles or attend every funeral and traditional marriage ceremony, without asking whether they possess the intellectual capacity, character, independence and legislative competence required to represent us.

We must begin to ask more demanding questions.

1. EDUCATION: IS THE CONSTITUTIONAL MINIMUM GOOD ENOUGH?

Under Sections 65 and 106 of the Nigerian Constitution, candidates for the House of Representatives and State Houses of Assembly must be at least 25 years old and possess a minimum of School Certificate level education or its equivalent, alongside other constitutional requirements.

But should this minimum qualification become our standard of excellence?

Imo State, with its abundance of educated professionals, entrepreneurs, academics and accomplished individuals, should demand substantially more.

A prospective lawmaker should demonstrate intellectual curiosity, sound judgment, communication skills and an understanding of constitutional governance, public finance, legislative procedures and economic development.

A university degree or credible professional qualification is desirable, but certificates alone are insufficient.

An accomplished, self educated entrepreneur with demonstrable competence may be better prepared than a degree holder who cannot articulate a single coherent public policy.

We must elect thinkers, not merely certificate holders or political loyalists.

2. INTEGRITY, CHARACTER AND ANTECEDENTS

Before considering any aspirant, we must examine the individual’s history.

How has the person conducted business? Has the aspirant demonstrated honesty, financial responsibility and respect for obligations?

How does the individual treat employees, associates and ordinary citizens?

Can the candidate tolerate criticism, engage in intelligent debate and defend an unpopular position when principle demands it?

Does the individual possess the moral courage to resist a governor, political godfather or party leader when public interest is threatened?

These questions are especially important for the Imo State House of Assembly, where legislative independence is essential to effective checks and balances.

A legislator who cannot question the executive is not providing the independent oversight the Constitution envisages.

Imo State needs lawmakers, not political errand boys whose primary responsibility is to applaud the governor.

The House of Assembly must never become a ceremonial extension of Government House.

3. PHILANTHROPY: GENUINE COMPASSION OR POLITICAL INVESTMENT?

This is an area where our electorate must become considerably more discerning.

We have witnessed aspirants suddenly discovering widows, indigent students, unemployed youths and struggling communities shortly before elections.

Scholarships become media spectacles. Food distribution becomes a political event. Hospital bills are settled before cameras. Donations are accompanied by elaborate publicity.

There is nothing inherently wrong with philanthropy, whether public or private.

But we must distinguish between genuine generosity and politically calculated charity.

Was the aspirant helping people long before political ambition emerged?

Is the generosity consistent, sustainable and free from political conditions?

Does it empower communities or merely cultivate dependence and electoral loyalty?

Quiet philanthropy may be admirable, but even genuine generosity is not proof of legislative competence.

A generous individual may be a wonderful human being and still be thoroughly unsuitable for legislative office.

Let us appreciate philanthropy without converting gratitude into an obligation to vote.

4. MUST A CANDIDATE HAVE PREVIOUS LEGISLATIVE EXPERIENCE?

Absolutely not.

Legislative experience is desirable, but it must not become a monopoly reserved for career politicians.

Our legislative chambers need fresh minds from law, engineering, medicine, education, agriculture, economics, technology, business and public administration.

A prepared newcomer with intellectual depth and a record of professional accomplishment may contribute more than a legislator who has occupied a seat for several terms without meaningful achievements.

However, newcomers must demonstrate preparedness.

Do they understand the difference between legislative and executive responsibilities?

Can they explain how bills are introduced, debated and passed?

Do they understand budgetary appropriations, oversight functions, committee responsibilities and the constitutional limitations of their offices?

And for incumbents seeking re election, we must demand evidence.

What bills have they sponsored? What motions have they moved? What committees have they served on? What oversight interventions have they undertaken?

How have their legislative activities improved the lives of constituents?

Years spent in office are not evidence of competence. Experience without measurable performance is merely political longevity.

5. ARE WE ELECTING LAWMAKERS OR ASPIRING GOVERNORS?

There is nothing inherently wrong with political ambition or the desire to seek higher office.

However, we must be wary of individuals who regard the House of Representatives or House of Assembly merely as a temporary platform for their next political adventure.

If an aspirant is already consumed by a future governorship or senatorial ambition, will the person devote sufficient attention to the office currently being sought?

Will constituency engagement become a vehicle for building personal political structures?

Will public responsibilities be subordinated to the pursuit of political endorsements and patronage?

Every candidate must demonstrate a genuine commitment to serving the full mandate sought.

Our legislative seats must not become political waiting rooms or consolation prizes for ambitious politicians.

6. THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES: WHAT SHOULD WE EXPECT?

Imo State has ten federal constituencies represented in the House of Representatives.

Each deserves a representative capable of engaging national legislation, federal budgetary processes, public finance, infrastructure, security, education, economic development and institutional accountability.

Our federal representatives should be able to interrogate federal policies, scrutinise government expenditure and advocate legitimate federal interventions in their constituencies.

They must engage federal ministries, departments and agencies effectively and work collaboratively with other lawmakers to advance Imo’s interests.

A representative should not be judged principally by the number of motorcycles, sewing machines, grinding machines or bags of rice distributed.

Those may provide temporary relief, but they are not substitutes for legislation, oversight and sustainable development.

We should ask what each representative has accomplished institutionally, not merely what the individual has distributed personally.

7. THE IMO STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY: WHERE LEGISLATIVE INDEPENDENCE MUST BEGIN

Perhaps nowhere is the need for legislative courage more urgent than in our State House of Assembly.

Imo State has 27 state constituencies, each entitled to meaningful representation.

Our assembly members should be examining the state budget, scrutinising government expenditure, questioning ministries and agencies, reviewing public policies and ensuring that public resources are used responsibly.

They should be asking difficult questions about our deteriorating public schools, primary healthcare facilities, rural roads, agricultural development, local government administration and the implementation of state budgets.

They should demand accountability for abandoned projects, questionable contracts and unfulfilled government promises.

They should be accessible to constituents and prepared to defend their communities without waiting for political instructions.

The constitutional responsibility of an assembly member is not to function as a governor’s praise singer or political foot soldier.

A House of Assembly that cannot independently scrutinise the executive has failed one of its most fundamental democratic responsibilities.

This does not mean opposing government for the sake of opposition.

Good legislation deserves support, regardless of party affiliation. Poor policy deserves scrutiny, regardless of who proposes it.

Our legislators must possess the courage to do both.

8. WE MUST END THE CULTURE OF POLITICAL COMPENSATION

Another troubling feature of our politics is the treatment of legislative offices as rewards for party loyalty.

Someone who has served a governor faithfully is considered deserving of an assembly seat.

Another who has financed political campaigns is rewarded with a House of Representatives ticket.

A defeated aspirant is offered a legislative nomination as compensation.

A wealthy benefactor is encouraged to contest because of financial contributions to party activities.

But where does the public interest feature in these calculations?

Legislative office is neither an inheritance nor a reward for political loyalty. It is a public trust.

Our representatives must be selected primarily for their capacity to serve, not their proximity to powerful politicians.

9. MY PROPOSAL: PUBLIC DEBATES AND A CANDIDATE ASSESSMENT FRAMEWORK

I propose that credible civic organisations, professional associations, town unions, youth organisations and other independent stakeholders across Imo State establish transparent mechanisms for assessing legislative aspirants.

Every candidate should be evaluated on:

• Integrity, character and personal antecedents.
• Intellectual and professional competence.
• Understanding of legislative responsibilities and public policy.
• Demonstrated history of public service and community engagement.
• Independence of judgment and courage of conviction.
• A realistic, measurable legislative agenda for the constituency.

Candidates should face public debates and answer questions about the issues confronting their communities.

Incumbents must defend their records. Newcomers must demonstrate their preparedness.

Let us reject the practice of endorsing candidates simply because they are wealthy, generous, popular, politically connected or favoured by a governor.

10. IMO 2027: WE MUST SWEEP OUT THE ILLITERATES AND THE INTELLECTUALLY UNPREPARED FROM OUR LEGISLATURES

Let us be unequivocal. In 2027, we must sweep out the illiterates, the intellectually bankrupt, the incompetent and the politically subservient individuals occupying legislative seats without the capacity to discharge their constitutional responsibilities.

Imo State, reputed for its educational achievements and abundance of intellectual and professional talent, has absolutely no business being represented by individuals who cannot engage intelligently in legislative debates, interrogate budgets, understand public policy or articulate the developmental needs of their constituencies.

We must stop rewarding mediocrity with political office.

I am not referring merely to individuals without university degrees. Formal education and intellectual competence are not necessarily synonymous. There are accomplished, self educated individuals with exceptional reasoning abilities, just as there are degree holders who demonstrate astonishing ignorance of governance.

I am referring to those who are functionally and politically illiterate; individuals who occupy legislative seats but cannot explain their responsibilities, scrutinise government policies, formulate meaningful legislation or exercise independent judgment.

Those whose only discernible political qualifications are loyalty to a governor, financial generosity, party connections, political thuggery or an ability to applaud their benefactors.

The House of Representatives is not a refuge for intellectual mediocrity, and the Imo State House of Assembly must cease to function as a retirement home for political errand boys and professional praise singers.

We cannot continue to lament the poor quality of governance while repeatedly returning intellectually unprepared and ineffective individuals to institutions constitutionally entrusted with lawmaking and executive oversight.

In 2027, incumbents must present their legislative scorecards and defend their records. Those who cannot demonstrate competence, integrity, independence and measurable performance should be voted out, irrespective of party affiliation, personal relationships or political sponsorship.

Let us replace mediocrity with merit, ignorance with knowledge, sycophancy with courage and political servitude with independent representation.

Imo is too intellectually endowed to be represented by legislative incompetence.

Enough of the celebration of mediocrity. Enough of political compensation. Enough of rewarding incompetence with another four years in office.

Ndi Imo, let us use our votes to sweep out legislative incompetence in 2027. We deserve better, and we must demand better!

11. CONCLUSION: IMO MUST RAISE THE BAR IN 2027

Imo State cannot continue to complain about poor governance while repeatedly electing individuals whose principal qualifications are money, political patronage, personal generosity and blind loyalty to powerful benefactors.

We cannot demand accountability from governors while electing assembly members who lack the courage to question them.

We cannot complain about federal neglect while sending representatives to Abuja who cannot articulate our development priorities or engage meaningfully in national legislative debates.

And we cannot continue mistaking philanthropy for competence, political popularity for credibility, or sycophancy for loyalty.

I am not suggesting that every aspirant must be a university professor, lawyer or seasoned politician.

Far from it.

I am arguing that every aspirant must demonstrate the intellectual capacity, integrity, preparedness, independence and genuine commitment required for the office being sought.

Political parties are merely platforms through which candidates seek office. Our ultimate loyalty must be to the public interest, not party labels or political godfathers.

As 2027 approaches, let us ask ourselves:

Are we electing legislators or rewarding philanthropists?

Are we choosing independent representatives or political errand boys?

Are we voting for competent public servants or financing the ambitions of career politicians?

Are we selecting people who will defend our interests or individuals who will protect the interests of their political sponsors?

These are the questions that must guide our choices across the ten federal constituencies and 27 state constituencies of Imo State.

The quality of our legislature ultimately influences the quality of our governance.

Let us stop electing people because of what they give us personally and start electing them because of what they can accomplish for us collectively.

Imo deserves legislators who can think independently, speak courageously, legislate intelligently and hold government accountable.

Competence over patronage. Integrity over money.

Character over propaganda.

Public service over personal ambition.

Ndi Imo, 2027 offers us another opportunity to raise the bar. Let us not squander it.

Duruebube Oblong Nnadi-Oforgu

For

Oblong Media Global Intelligence (OMGI)

Think Imo.
Think Competence.
Think Integrity.
Think Accountability.

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