A retired officer of the Department of State Services (DSS), Ihuoma Justice Ogbonna, has purchased the Expression of Interest and Nomination Form to contest for the Obingwa East State Constituency seat in the Abia State House of Assembly.
Briefing journalists in Umuahia, Justice Ogbonna said his decision to join the race was driven by the prolonged neglect and lack of basic infrastructure in his community, Abala, in Obingwa Local Government Area.
He lamented that residents of Ward 11 and adjoining areas have continued to suffer from poor road access, lack of electricity, and absence of mobile network coverage, despite years of democratic governance.
According to him, Abala, which borders Akwa Ibom State, has remained cut off due to bad roads and worsening erosion, making it difficult for residents to access their homes, farms, and transport agricultural produce.
He, however, disclosed that through personal efforts and contacts, he facilitated the installation of an MTN mast in the area, which is expected to become operational soon.
Justice Ogbonna further noted that electricity supply in the community has been unstable, with damaged transformers left unattended, forcing residents to rely on self-help initiatives.
He promised that if elected, he would leverage his experience and network to attract government attention and development projects to the area, including road construction, electricity restoration, and erosion control.
The former DSS officer emphasized that his ambition is to provide purposeful representation and address the longstanding challenges facing Obingwa East.
Some of his supporters who accompanied him, including Chiemela Irondi, described him as a man of integrity and capacity, noting that he has consistently contributed to community development even without holding public office.
They cited his involvement in educational support programmes and past efforts in restoring electricity in parts of the community as evidence of his commitment to service.
The supporters called on constituents to rally behind Justice Ogbonna, expressing confidence that he would deliver effective representation and attract meaningful development to the constituency if elected.
