2027: Umeh’s re-election decisive for Anambra Central

By Chekwube E. Nzomiwu

The battle for seats in the 11th Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has started ahead of the 2027 general elections. According to the list of candidates published by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), 13 candidates are in the contest for the Anambra Central senatorial election. The contenders include the incumbent, Senator Victor Umeh OFR, of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Iyom Uche Ekwunife of the federal party, the All Progressive Congress (APC) and Hon. Dozie Nwankwo of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), the ruling party in Anambra State.

However, I strongly hold the view that Anambra Central should re-elect Umeh for the 11th Senate. My opinion is without prejudice to the right of the other 12 candidates to contest the Anambra Central Senatorial election on January 16, 2027.

Frankly, very few Senators have been as impactful in the 10th Senate as the Aguluzigbo, Anambra LGA born lawmaker. As a ranking Senator, Umeh has earned accolades from numerous quarters for his outstanding performance in legislative duties of lawmaking, oversight and representation in the current session of the National Assembly.

In terms of lawmaking, Umeh has since the commencement of this Senate on June 13, 2023, displayed a mastery of the legislative rules and processes required to turn ideas into practical well-crafted laws. His understanding of lawmaking procedures and budget mechanics is undoubtedly unassailable.

Concerning performance of oversight functions, he is widely seen as a fiscal watchdog, champion of regional equity and promoter of constitutionalism in the 10th Assembly. Unlike most of his colleagues, he is not afraid to speak truth to power when and where necessary.

Also, Senator Umeh has built a very strong reputation for his consistency in demanding for proper accountability from the executive arm of government on how public finances are managed. In a recent interview with Seun Okinbaloye on Channels TV flagship programme “Politics Today,” the outspoken Senator not only questioned the President’s fresh $20.5 billion and 1.45 billion borrowing requests, but further demanded a formal accounting of past borrowings by the Federal Government. Very few Senators in the current Senate have such courage.

Regarding representation, Umeh participates actively in committee work and plenary. It is not a coincidence that he belongs to 14 standing committees of the Senate. Currently, he chairs the Senate Committee on National Population Commission (NPC) and National Identity Management Commission (NIMC). He previously served as the Chairman of Senate Committee on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs).

Umeh uses every opportunity given to him by the Senate President to speak at plenary to draw the attention of the federal government to the problems facing Anambra Central, Anambra State and South-East in general. In May this year, the Coalition of South East Youth Leaders (COSEYL), the apex political youth organisation in Eastern Nigeria, endorsed his re-election to represent Anambra Central, for remaining consistent, vocal and courageous in defending matters affecting the Igbo nation and the entire South East region.

Senator Umeh has so far remained unwavering in his resolve to speak for South East. This is in keeping with his pledge during his 2023 campaigns to speak for Ndigbo like his leader, late Ikemba Nnewi, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu. Under Ojukwu’s cover, he fought many battles as the National Chairman of APGA, before political opportunists hijacked the party.

In his capacity as the Chairman, Senate Committee on Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Umeh personally visited the office of the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) in Abuja in November last year, to intervene in the demolition of Igbo property. Some of those affected by the demolition hail from Anambra State.

Back home in Anambra Central, Umeh’s brand of representation is grassroots-oriented, compassionate and empathetic, people centric and responsive. After conducting an on-the-spot assessment of parts of Awka capital, ravaged by flood and erosion recently, he called on the Federal Government to declare Anambra Central Ecological Disaster Zone.

Although Anambra Central has a history of ecological disasters, with the most devastating in Obosi, Idemili North LGA, no Senator has drawn national attention to the plight of the people like Umeh has done in recent times. His efforts in this regard have given succour to his constituents affected by ecological menace. In fact, those of us from other senatorial zones in Anambra, feel like orphans whenever we see Umeh on television, moving a motion, calling federal government attention to one issue or the other in Anambra Central.

Besides drawing attention to ecological challenges in Anambra Central, Umeh has shown immense passion for youth empowerment through education, to make the future leaders useful members of the society and beacon of hope for a better Nigeria. Conscious of the role played by education in both personal and societal development, he annually awards scholarships to indigent undergraduates and post-graduate students of various Nigerian tertiary institutions, through his Victor Umeh Foundation (VUMEF).

For the 2025/2026 academic session, the VUMEF awarded scholarships to 326 indigent students as Senator Umeh’s constituency project. He chose education as his constituency project under the South East Zonal Intervention Programme of the Federal Government.

During a colourful ceremony organised by VUMEF at Canaan House event centre Awka, a total of 64 million was paid to the 326 beneficiaries. The money covered school fees and extra textbook allowances. Amid jubilation, the beneficiaries received instant credit alerts from two commercial banks at the venue. Some of the benefitting students almost lost their admission because of inability to pay school fees.

A year earlier, 223 indigent brilliant students benefitted for the 2024/2025 session, receiving a total disbursement of N37 million from Senator Umeh’s foundation. The President-Generals of communities in Anambra Central were mandated to identify and nominate two beneficiaries per town, accounting for 116 of the total students.

From inception, a total of 2,320 students have benefitted from VUMEF, which predates Senator Umeh’s first Senate appearance in 2018. No fewer than 33 of the beneficiaries have been assisted by Senator Umeh to get federal jobs.

Equally, many school buildings, comprising multiple classroom blocks, have been completed in Anambra Central under Senator Umeh’s constituency projects. Many are ongoing. These school buildings are scattered across communities in Anambra Central, including Ezi Owelle in Idemili North LGA, Agulu and Ichida in Anaocha LGA, Amansea in Awka North LGA, Okpuno in Awka South LGA, and Enugu Agidi in Njikoka LGA, to mention but a few.

Lest I forget, Umeh attracted to Anambra Central senatorial district, the Federal College of Skills Acquisition and Technology, Agulu, located in Anaocha LGA. He sponsored the bill to establish the institution in the 10th Senate. The bill progressed through the Senate including passing through second readings and undergoing public hearings. The objective is to provide practical, vocational, technology training (such as plumbing, electrical installations, bricklaying and carpentry) to help curb youth unemployment and National Skills Qualifications.

Since returning to the Senate in 2023, Senator Umeh has worked assiduously to improve the standard of living of people in Anambra Central by facilitating projects that impact positively on them. The people of Umubele Awka in Awka South LGA, for instance, were in darkness for years until recently when they were restored to the national grid, sequel to the installation of 300Kva transformer in the community under his constituency projects.

He did not forget his community Aguluzigbo. Recently, he commissioned a solar-powered borehole in Uffa Village, Aguluzigbo to serve the needs of his people for clean and sufficient water. Last year, he delivered a similar Solar-Powered borehole with overhead tank and landscaping at Umuawulu, Awka South LGA, to make sure that the people have clean and affordable water. He also equipped a health centre in the same community. These projects are all verifiable.

I have recounted all these to buttress my position from the beginning of this article that Umeh deserves another term in the Senate. His re-election will guarantee the sustenance of the progress so far made in addressing the pressing and peculiar challenges facing the people of Anambra Central. His re-election will also ensure that the gains in human capital development are not only sustained, but consolidated.

Fortunately for Anambra Central, some of Umeh’s opponents in the forthcoming election cannot point at one thing they did for their constituents when they had the opportunity to serve the people, besides personal aggrandizement. I do not want to mention names because the people already know them and they know themselves.

None among Umeh’s opponents in 2027 has shown more commitment to grassroots development than him. While Umeh leverages on his achievements to seek re-election, his opponents go about flaunting their so-called legislative experience and connections at the national level. However, I do not think that anybody can hoodwink the people of Anambra Central, who are the most politically sophisticated in Anambra State.

In conclusion, the reward of good work is more work. This is why Umeh’s re-election, in my opinion, is decisive for Anambra Central.

Dr. Nzomiwu, MNIPR, a journalist, political commentator and public affairs analyst, writes via chekmma@yahoo.com