Ndigbo resident in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, have been urged to support the candidacy of former Senator Philip Tanimu Aduda in the 2027 senatorial election.
The call was made by an Igbo community leader, Iheoma Shedrack, during an interactive session with Igbo stakeholders in Abuja.
Shedrack described Aduda as an accessible and responsive politician who, according to him, understands the needs of residents across the FCT and has the political connections to facilitate solutions to their challenges.
He recalled an encounter with Aduda during his previous tenure as a senator representing the FCT, saying he once challenged the former lawmaker to demonstrate how he had represented residents outside his immediate ethnic and political constituency.
According to him, Aduda responded by providing documented evidence of projects executed during his tenure and subsequently agreed to a physical inspection of the projects.
“Some years ago, I reached out to Senator Aduda on the phone and challenged him to show his achievements as proof that he was representing the interests of Abuja residents from other geopolitical regions.
“After listening, Senator Aduda promised to get back to me. A few days later, he contacted me through one of his aides and provided documented evidence of his achievements within the Federal Capital Territory,” Shedrack said.
He said he insisted on inspecting the projects physically and requested that the exercise be conducted alongside other stakeholders and members of the media.
Shedrack said Aduda accepted the request, leading to a project inspection tour that lasted several days and covered rural and isolated communities across the FCT.
He said the exercise gave him firsthand insight into the former senator’s approach to constituency representation.
“It was during the project inspection that I had firsthand information that most of Senator Aduda’s projects are located where the real need exists.
“I interacted with the people and found out there was a connection between him and those who legitimise his candidacy. That man knows the right button to press to get things done,” he said.
Shedrack also said Aduda operated a team that interfaced with residents and stakeholders across the six area councils of the FCT to identify their needs and communicate them to the senator.
According to him, the information gathered from the communities was subsequently used to facilitate projects and interventions targeted at addressing identified needs.
He urged Ndigbo in Abuja to seize the 2027 election as an opportunity to strengthen their political influence and support candidates who, he said, had demonstrated commitment to the interests of residents across ethnic and regional lines.
Shedrack called on the Igbo community to rally behind Aduda’s candidacy, arguing that his experience, accessibility and knowledge of the FCT political landscape would benefit Ndigbo and other residents of the territory.