A coalition of civil rights groups in Afikpo/Edda Federal Constituency of Ebonyi State has warned politicians seeking elective positions in the 2027 general elections not to campaign in the area unless electricity is restored, declaring “no electricity, no votes.”
The groups—Afikpo Intelligentsia in the Diaspora (AID), #RestoreAfikpoLight Campaigners Abroad, and Odinma Afikpo Group (OAG)—issued the warning while reacting to comments attributed to the lawmaker representing the constituency, Chief Iduma Igariwey, who said funding constituency projects rests with the Federal Government, not individual legislators.
The coalition, in a statement, urged all aspirants for the House of Representatives seat, including the incumbent, Ebonyi State Deputy Governor Princess Patricia Obila, members of the State House of Assembly from the area, and other political hopefuls, to prioritise restoring power supply to Afikpo before seeking votes.
Leaders of the groups, Charles Otu (OAG), Olughu Franklin Nnamdi (AID), and Collins Alum Eze (#RestoreAfikpoLight Campaigners Abroad), said the prolonged blackout in Afikpo, which has lasted over two decades, was unacceptable and required urgent intervention.
According to them, lawmakers have constitutional and legislative tools to address such issues, including motions, oversight functions, and budget advocacy at the National Assembly.
The coalition argued that despite earlier interventions and public hearings involving the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), no lasting solution had been achieved.
They expressed disappointment that nearly six years after a 2020 engagement with TCN, there had been no visible follow-up on the electricity crisis.
The groups also faulted what they described as a failure to sustain pressure through legislative channels such as budget insertions and regulatory petitions to agencies like the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and the Rural Electrification Agency (REA).
While acknowledging some constituency projects executed by the lawmaker, they insisted these were insufficient compared to the long-standing electricity challenge facing the area.
They maintained that Afikpo and Edda deserve stronger representation on critical infrastructure issues, noting that the blackout has caused severe economic losses over the years.
The coalition warned that residents would resist political campaigns in 2027 if the electricity situation remains unresolved, insisting that “without electricity, there will be no campaigns and no votes.”
