2027: ADC candidate Olofu unveils ‘development plan’ for Benue South

By Christiana Ekpa

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) senatorial candidate for Benue South, David Olofu, has unveiled a proposed people-driven governance structure that would give constituents a greater role in determining development priorities across the district if he is elected in 2027.

Olofu, a former Benue State Commissioner for Finance, said he would establish a People’s Assembly and People’s Council to strengthen accountability and ensure elected representatives remain responsive to the needs of their constituents.

He made the pledge on Tuesday in Makurdi while presenting his agenda ahead of the 2027 elections.

According to him, the proposed People’s Assembly would bring together representatives from the nine local government areas in Benue South, including council chairmen, councilors and members of the state and National Assemblies, regardless of their political affiliations.

Olofu said the assembly would meet annually to identify and prioritize the major needs of the district, while the People’s Council would convert those priorities into a development agenda for elected representatives.

“Once you have our mandate, you must be accountable. You must work together because you cannot work for us when you are working alone,” he said.

The ADC candidate said the agreed development priorities would guide elected officials when preparing budgets and proposing projects at both state and federal levels.

He pledged that, if elected senator, he would take the district’s development agenda to the National Assembly and push for relevant projects and programmes to be captured in the national budget.

“If, by the grace of God, I become the senator representing Benue South, I will take that agenda to the National Assembly and ensure that what needs to go into the national budget gets into the budget,” he said.

Olofu said the proposed structure would also help close the gap between elected representatives and their constituents by ensuring that political differences do not prevent officials from working together on issues affecting the district.

He explained that the People’s Council would comprise relevant stakeholders who could also function as a lobbying team for Benue South when necessary.

According to him, the arrangement would provide continuity in development planning and prevent important projects from being abandoned whenever there is a change in political leadership.

Olofu also promised to prepare a comprehensive development plan for Benue South, which would serve as a roadmap for elected representatives and establish measurable targets against which their performance could be assessed.

He urged constituents to move beyond campaign promises and evaluate their representatives based on tangible achievements.

The candidate said eight years should be sufficient for constituents to assess the performance of elected officials and demand accountability.

Olofu said his ultimate objective was to establish a system in which the people themselves would determine the priorities and standards against which their representatives would be judged.