By spyNigeria
As political activities ahead of the 2027 general elections gradually intensify, a House of Representatives aspirant for the AMAC/Bwari Federal Constituency, Neto Ozzoude, has said his campaign will be driven by the needs and priorities identified by constituents rather than promises made from political offices.
Ozzoude, who is seeking election to represent the constituency in the House of Representatives, said his approach to leadership would be anchored on accessibility, accountability and measurable impact.
Under the campaign slogan “Service, Not Promises,” the aspirant has been engaging residents and young people across communities in the constituency to identify issues that directly affect their daily lives.
During a recent engagement with residents of Mpape, hosted by I&K Fitness Centre, Ozzoude said healthcare emerged as one of the most pressing concerns raised by participants.
According to him, residents expressed concern that people experiencing medical emergencies in the densely populated community could face journeys of more than 30 minutes before reaching a healthcare facility.
Ozzoude described the situation as unacceptable, arguing that access to basic healthcare should be regarded as an essential component of effective representation.
“The people must decide what their greatest needs are. Leadership is not about assuming what communities need; it is about listening and responding,” he said.
The aspirant said the interaction reinforced his belief that elected representatives should spend more time listening to constituents and less time determining priorities without adequate consultation.
He also questioned the tendency among politicians to measure performance primarily through the distribution of items such as tricycles, sewing machines, transformers and boreholes.
While acknowledging that such interventions could have their place, Ozzoude argued that they should not substitute for essential public services and long-term investments capable of improving the quality of life of residents.
A six-point campaign agenda
Ozzoude’s campaign materials outline a broad development agenda covering transportation, youth and sports development, education, job creation and entrepreneurship, healthcare, security and community engagement, as well as accountable representation.
On transportation, his campaign proposes affordable transportation initiatives, including subsidised electric-vehicle programmes, shuttle services and charging infrastructure.
For young people, the campaign proposes modern sports centres, renovated playing fields, talent discovery initiatives and scholarships for young athletes.
In education, Ozzoude says his priorities include rehabilitating classrooms, expanding digital learning tools, supporting ICT and vocational training, and improving sanitation and water infrastructure in schools.
His economic agenda focuses on skills training, grants, apprenticeships, support for small and medium-sized businesses, artisans and youth employment.
Healthcare also occupies a prominent place in the campaign’s agenda, with proposals including improved access to healthcare, medical outreach, maternal health, mental health and health education.
On security, the aspirant says stronger community policing, youth engagement and street-lighting initiatives should form part of efforts to improve safety within the constituency.
‘Representation must be people-driven’
For Ozzoude, however, the central issue is not simply the number of projects an elected representative can announce.
He argues that representation should begin with identifying what residents consider their most urgent problems.
“Representation must be driven by the priorities of the people, not the preferences of politicians,” he said during the Mpape engagement.
The aspirant has consequently placed community conversations at the centre of his campaign, saying residents should have a voice in determining the issues their representatives pursue.
His campaign’s stated priorities include ensuring that young people have opportunities, public schools function effectively, sports talents receive support, transportation becomes more affordable and communities feel adequately represented.
The campaign is also promising what it describes as “accessible and accountable representation,” including town-hall meetings, open communication, project tracking and greater inclusion of young people and women.
A contest about service
With the 2027 elections approaching, the political contest across Nigeria’s constituencies is expected to place increasing emphasis on the records, programmes and credibility of individual candidates.
For Ozzoude, the message is straightforward: political representation should translate into tangible improvements in the lives of constituents.
“I am not running because politics is popular. I am running because our constituency deserves better,” he states in his campaign message.
Whether his proposed model of “Service, Not Promises” will resonate with voters remains to be seen as the electoral process progresses. But his decision to centre his campaign on direct conversations with residents signals an attempt to make constituent engagement a defining feature of his bid for the AMAC/Bwari Federal Constituency.
For the people of Mpape, at least, one issue has already emerged clearly from those conversations: access to healthcare.
And that, Ozoude says, is precisely why politicians must listen before they promise.
