Mr Terseer Ugbor, the member representing Kwande/Ushongo Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, has said that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s performance in office is enough reason for him to be re-elected in the 2027 presidential election.
Ugbor made the declaration in Adikpo, Benue State, during the flag-off of his constituency thank-you tour, where he also told supporters that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had formally published his name as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the Kwande/Ushongo Federal Constituency.
President Tinubu’s economic reforms, increased revenue allocations to states and ongoing Federal Government infrastructure projects have put the country on a path of sustainable development, the lawmaker said.
Ugbor said the President is a courageous reformer who is ready to take difficult decisions in the national interest, pointing to the removal of fuel subsidy, as well as the administration’s efforts towards local government autonomy, ongoing constitutional debates on state policing, state creation and the establishment of additional local government areas as evidence of the administration’s commitment to institutional reforms.
He also said lost constituencies for the Benue State House of Assembly had been restored under the present administration, while increased federal allocations had empowered the state governments to embark on more developmental projects.
The lawmaker urged the governors in the country to prudently use the increased resources by investing in infrastructure, human capital development, youth and women empowerment programmes, employment generation and prompt payment of workers salaries, pensions and gratuities.
Ugbor expressed optimism that the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) scheme would continue to be strengthened through grants and scholarships for students.
He said he was the chairman of the House Committee that handled the student loan initiative, adding that over 25,000 students of Benue State had already benefited from the programme.
Ugbor also disclosed that the Federal Government has approved the establishment of an Infectious Disease Hospital in Gboko to serve the North-Central part of the country.
Commenting on his re-election bid, the APC lawmaker said the publication of his name by INEC had laid to rest speculation that the party’s ticket had been given to another aspirant.
He promised to consolidate on the gains of his first term if returned to the National Assembly, listing some ongoing and proposed projects like the completion of the Technology Incubation Centre, the approved National Open University study centre, the Federal Medical Project, the Comprehensive Health Centre in Turan, Jato-Aka, teachers’ and doctors’ quarters, a Comprehensive Primary School and a ₦1 billion Federal Government bridge project.
He said he had also rehabilitated several boreholes, distributed fertilisers and other agricultural inputs to farmers, undertaken youth training and capacity building programmes and secured employment for many constituents.
He appealed to the people of Kwande and Ushongo to send him back to the House of Representatives, stating that the constituency would gain more benefits with a ranking member of the House who could attract more Federal Government presence and development.
Ugbor said that on security, the establishment of the 5 Division of the Nigerian Army in Makurdi was a demonstration of the commitment of President Tinubu to tackle insecurity in Benue State.
He also earlier welcomed the approval of a military battalion in Jato-Aka which he said has greatly improved security in the area.
The lawmaker expressed optimism on the ongoing constitutional process for the establishment of state police, saying the reform would usher in a new era of community-based policing and enhance security across the country.
“Before, Tiv land had traditional community policing structures before they were scrapped, so there were loopholes in grassroots security,” Ugbor said.
He said the proposed state police system would restore community participation in policing, create jobs for the youths and boost national security.
