Polycarp Ogbonna Nwite Jnr., son of the late Senator Polycarp Ogbonna Nwite, has declared his intention to contest the Ebonyi North Senatorial District seat in the 2027 National Assembly elections on the platform of the Accord Party.

Nwite’s name was recently published by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the Accord Party’s candidate for the senatorial district, where he will challenge the incumbent Senator Onyekachi Nwaebonyi.

In a statement issued in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, on Friday, Nwite said his decision to enter the race was driven by a renewed commitment to the development and welfare of the people of the district.

He also said his aspiration was partly inspired by the legacy of his late father, who served as a Nigerian ambassador to Botswana and presidential aide to former President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua.

According to him, his late father was known for his dedication to public service, integrity, grassroots development and efforts to foster unity across Ebonyi North.

“My father’s life was defined by dedication to public service, integrity, and the bridges he built across communities in service to the people of Ebonyi,” Nwite said.

“It is in that same spirit that I have returned to Nigeria to offer myself for service. My aspiration is not to merely inherit my father’s name, but to earn my own place through meaningful service, while upholding the values and principles he stood for.”

Nwite said his campaign would focus on people-centred representation, with particular attention to infrastructure, youth empowerment, education, healthcare delivery and economic opportunities.

He disclosed that he had commenced consultations with stakeholders across the five Local Government Areas that make up Ebonyi North Senatorial District.

The Accord candidate also said he was engaging allies and associates of his late father in Ebonyi State and other parts of the country as part of efforts to build support for his candidacy.

He said he was seeking the guidance and support of elders, stakeholders and residents of the senatorial district as he embarked on his political journey.

“As I begin this new chapter, I recognize that this responsibility is far greater than seeking political office. It is about serving our people,” he said.

Nwite added that his understanding of leadership was not about “ostentation while our people continue to grapple with poverty,” insisting that democratic representation should remain focused on the needs and welfare of the people.

“We will redefine representation in Ebonyi North — make it people-centred, empathetic, and guided by emotional intelligence in both action and utterance,” he said.