SENATOR OSITA NGWU CALLS FOR ELECTORAL REFORM TO ENABLE CREDIBLE ELECTIONS IN NIGERIA

SENATOR OSITA NGWU CALLS FOR ELECTORAL REFORM TO ENABLE CREDIBLE ELECTIONS IN NIGERIA


The Senator Representing Enugu West Senatorial District, Senator Osita Ngwu in an interview granted to Dr. Luke Mgboh and Nonso Ezenwoma at his Enugu residence on October 12th 2025, urged Nigerians to embrace electoral reform for the stabilisation of our democracy; adding that electoral reform is one key area that will bring about credible elections.

Senator Ngwu also argued that the 10th Senate led by H.E Senator Godswill Akpabio is not a rubber stamp, but intentionally thinking about the people by supporting the Executive to better the people. He said that the Senate have passed so many pro people Bills; insisting that the Senate has never passed any anti people bill since its inauguration.

He rated Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State as the number one Governor in Nigeria; arguing that Mbah tops in Education, economy, good governance and accountability.

On his relationship with the Agbaja Leaders, he maintained that his relationship with the leaders is cordial and respectful, and that he aligned himself with the vision and theme of this year's Agbaja Summit, which is "Education"


INTERVIEW
Distinguished, let's start by meeting you. Tell us about yourself, your early life before becoming a Senator?

Thank you for having me today. My name is Osita Ngwu. A mechanical Engineer. I had my first degree from Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT). My second degree from Ruhalton University in United Kingdom. I have been a practicing Engineer with about 17 years experience, working for International Oil Companies. From a trainee to a manager position and even got to a Director before I ventured into Politics. My own politics is a call to serve the people. I never knew that I will be where I am today. It's all about determination, fate, God and the people who believe in me. So by the grace of God, I am the Senator Representing Enugu West Senatorial District today, and I give Him all the Glory.

*How has it been in the Senate? Your roles, positions and the way you have contributed to the Good Governance in Nigeria?*

This is two years plus for me in the National Assembly. As a first timer, we know it was never going to be easy. Parliamentary business is something you've to sit down and learn. To the glory of God, I came in, and with the help of my colleagues; especially the President of the Senate who found favour in me, who has helped me grow parliamentarily. I was appointed as the Chairman Solid Minerals Development Committee. It was initially Solid Minerals and Steal Development, but when the current Government separated the Ministry into Steel and Solid Minerals, I was kept to be the Chairman of Solid Minerals. I had that for about three months before favour found me and I was elevated to be a Principal Officer as a first timer, which is unprecedented.
We have been dealing with legislative functions to the best of our capabilities. There are three major things we do. One, law making, which is the responsibility of every Law maker. Two, over- sighting the Government at Committee Levels. I belong to several Committees that I have actively participated. Three, representing the people; where you have to speak for your people. You make sure that dividends of democracy that is at the centre comes down to the people and also you make sure that the capacity building of your people is upgraded. So we have done that to the best of our abilities. We have contributed in many bills and motions that had a clear impact on the common man. We will continue to improve as we go.

*You were made the Minority Whip of the Senate, how easy was it for you as a first timer?*

It is not easy, being a first timer and not just being a first timer. I have never been in Government. This is my first public office, and God has been the driver. Minority Whip didn't come easy. Members of the minority voted me and I thank them for that. I also thank the entire leadership of the Senate. I appreciate them, the Senate President, Deputy Senate President, the Leader of the Senate and also my own leader in the Minority, Senator Abba Moro, who has always supported me since I became the Whip. It wasn't easy to become the Whip, because there are several people who could  do the work but favour found me and I didn't take it for granted.

*There's this issue that's been subject of conversation and discussions in Nigeria, which is Constituency Projects. Sir, to what extent has Constituency Projects been able to bring about democracy dividends. People says a lot of things about it. That there is not much of accountability when it comes to Constituency Projects?*

One thing about constituency projects is that people are misguided and they don't understand this constituency projects well. If I am the one who takes decisions, I will even suggest that  constituency projects should even be scrapped and removed because it puts a lot of pressure on Legislators who now leave their primary responsibility of being a member of Parliament to be thinking on how to construct roads, provide water, electricity and all that. Constituency projects puts enormous responsibility on Legislators. It's not supposed not to be. If I have my way the issue of constituency projects should be left for the Executive, let them do the work. Let me guide us a little bit about these constituency projects. We have Zonal Intervention Projects which is shared amongst the Legislators. You are allowed to input a certain project to a certain value for your people. I think the value of a constituency project for us in the Senate is about 200 and something million Naira which you are not seeing the money. All you need to do is to select communities in your zone that you want to impact. Maybe through the provision of water, electricity or whatever it is. Then the agency where the money is domiciled advertise, contractor wins and the job is done. There is also the capital components of the project that are also giving to the Legislators which is not a big money. For instance, like in Enugu West Senatorial District where we have 81 political wards, and about 300 communities, everybody wants something and the value of the projects that is been put in the budget as your constituency projects cannot even satisfy four wards. So you're now under pressure to do something for every Political Ward. Meanwhile, the election circle doesn't take time to turn round. So when it comes, people like me who have a level that I have placed myself in terms of performance will not want to go to any political ward and keep promising without showing what I have done with the mandate they gave to me in the last four years.

*Are you a Magician, because I see a lot of projects all over your constituency. How do you do it?*

We lobby. I take this job serious. Any day that I cease to take it serious, I'll resign and will not run again. One thing also is to identify what the community needs. It's not about what I want to give. It has been an enormous task. So when I see people criticising some of us, I wish they understand that it is not easy. I am not a magician, I lobby. I take it serious. I have impacted more than seventy percent of my political wards. And the beauty of our constitutional democracy is that after four years, you will have to seek re-election. So before I'm able to seek re-election, I must have touched most parts of the political wards in my constituency.

*I will like to have your perspective about the 10th Senate. A lot of commentators argue that the 10th Senate is like a Rubber Stamp. What will you say about that?*

The 10th Senate led by His Excellency, Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio is completely misunderstood. Let me tell you, when the present APC Government came to power, the economy was on a flat note. President Tinubu took very tough decisions, like removal fuel subsidy because he knew where he was going. What the Parliament needed to do was to support this Government to get to the point where Nigerians will start having benefits. Everyone wants us to start fighting the Executive, but Government is not about fighting. Governance is about the people; interest of the people. How can you get the people to enjoy the benefits of democracy. So if the 10th Senate starts fighting the Government today, we will not be called Rubber Stamp, but who is going to suffer, the people. So we are taking bullets for the people. The Senate led by Senator Akpabio is very intentional, thinking about the people, supporting the Executive not rubber stamping the Executive decisions. For instance, if we didn't pass NELFUND, can you imagine thousands of students who could not be able to pay their school fees and other things for not having the money. That Bill is an Executive Bill, but we supported it. If we didn't pass it, we will not be called Rubber Stamp. But because we passed it, we are called Rubber Stamp, but who is gaining, the people. We have many pro people bills like Regional Development Commission Bills, which we have passed and non is anti people. So if we are being called Rubber Stamp and the people are happy, let us be Rubber Stamp. Let my people be happy and let me be called Rubber Stamp, no problem! The name Rubber Stamp doesn't even shake us anymore, we are going to be proudly rubber stamping things that are going to make Nigerians happy

*Now let's come to Agbaja. You are a proud Son of Agbaja Clan. What's your vision for Agbaja and your relationship with the leaders of Agbaja?*

My relationship with Agbaja Leaders is cordial and respectful. I am only privileged to be in this position. Agbaja have thousands of people who are capable of being in the position that I am today, but I am just favoured and privileged. Thank God we have Agbaja Leaders who have come together to say that we must reposission ourselves. I am not going to have a different plan from what the leaders has come to put together. It is very impactful. So mine is to contribute to make  Agbaja great. I am keying into the agenda of Agbaja Leaders. So I have a very good relationship with the Leaders who are my seniors and who I respect so much. We will continue to key into their programmes and make sure that Agbaja is progressing. Being in the Senate, I have done many things in Agbaja. We have provided transformers, empowerments, roads, boreholes etc. As at today, contractor has been mobilized to Amokwe to do a road, from Udi Police station, traversing several communities. We have tarred roads in Umulumgbe, Iwollo, Abor, Umuabi etc. In due time, Agbaja will celebrate me, because, I have projects everywhere.

*Beyond Agbaja, what about other parts of your Constituency?*

You know you are particular about Agbaja, but the truth is that when you go to Oji River, we have about five road projects there. We have market rehabilitation, hospital rehabilitation, water facilities and all kinds of projects. When you go to Awgu, we have several projects; including roads, markets, water, etc. In Aninri, infact Engineers just came from Oduma, where they're going to build a school. There is a secondary school we want to completely rebuild. We are trying to support the Governor's agenda. The Governor's agenda guides what we do. I am working closely with the Governor. Infact, sometimes, I sit closely with the Governor to know what he wants to do so that we won't collide. So if the Governor is doing this, we do that, so that we collaborate with the wonderful job the Governor is doing.


*Let me ask you, since you talked about the Governor, how would you rate your Governor?*

We have 36 Governors. Our Governor is number one. There's no parameter that you will want to use to measure Governance that Peter Mbah does not come out number one. If you use Education, Governor Mbah is number one in Nigeria. Even the economy of the State. Look at the internally generated revenue, Enugu is doing well and he credibly accounts for any kobo he's putting for the good of the people. Go and check the number of projects in Enugu. There is no State that is doing the number of projects Peter Mbah is doing. If you bring any parameter to measure the States, Peter Mbah will be first, first and first. In fact, I give him number one Governor, others can come behind.

*That's to say that the both of you are one super team?*

I can't grade myself. Maybe another person is to access me.


*Now, let's go back to Agbaja. The theme for this year's Summit is Education. How did it come to you?*

I am going to have the opportunity to speak to our people. Remember, I am somebody who have given a lot to Education. As a 19 years old boy, going to ESUT then, studying Mechanical Engineering, I will close from school and go to a lesson centre that I funded by myself at 19 to teach young boys and girls Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry. I am happy that as at today, a lot of my students are in different ministries, parastatals and agencies doing well. Even in Ministry of Works, I see them as Engineers doing well. These are the people I tutored as a young 19 years old boy. I am proud of it. Now, I have an academy that tutor our children for JAMB Examination; where we give them Computer Based Test (CBT), to prepare them on what they are likely to see on the exam day. Before, they will just come and don't even know how to operate the computer. So, I have a budget of almost 200 million Naira yearly on Education. This is tied to the theme of the Summit, which is related to my own personal agenda. So I am going to support the Agbaja Agenda. It is something that I am proud of.

*Let's look at the Culture and Tradition of the people of Agbaja. How would you want to be upgraded and even exported to outside World.*

Do we need to export culture? The culture of the people is domiciled with the people. In my office, I have SPA on culture, and in every Local Government Area of Enugu West, I have SSA's on Culture, which is trying to pay attention to the way our people will sustain what our fore fathers has been doing. Culture is not something you learn, it's something that is in you, and it's dynamic. Culture is domiciled with the people and the main thing we need to do is to preserve it. And fortunately we have wonderful people in Agbaja who are culturally enlightened and will make sure that our culture doesn't die.

*Let's go back to your vision. General vision for the people of Enugu West, Enugu State, and Nigeria at large.*


My vision is to make sure that our people have good life. That our people are secured. Security is the primary purpose of Government, and I'm participating actively in Security. We have a security Summit across the country where we interact with stakeholders across every state to know their peculiar challenges. Insecurity is there but what  causes insecurity in Jos may not be the reason for insecurity in Adamawa. We want to hear from the people. We will give back our time, our resources to make sure that at least security is improved. That the life of the people, in terms of health, education and housing improved. We want to see a situation where a common man does not have to bother about what to eat. It's not something that can be done in one day, but the truth is that I have the interest of the people at heart.

*On a final note, as a legislator, how can we improve or fast track democracy in the country, preserve and fast track it?*

Well our democracy started in 1999, for this Republic. I think we have done well. The only thing is that people need to be patient. We will continue to dot the I's and cross the T's. We are not normally patient people I urge the people, our people to be patient with our democracy. One thing is electoral reform. It is important that we start getting our election well. Once we start getting our elections well, then you know our democracy has come to stabilisation. That is one key area that Nigerians must pay attention to; credible elections. When we get it, that's the beauty of democracy. For the people to say that this is who we want to represent us or to govern us. That is the first in preserving our democracy. Election rigging is a sin to humanity, against God and against your conscience. Thank you.