The Accord Party’s senatorial candidate for Ebonyi North in the 2027 general elections, Polycarp Nwite Jr., has called for honest, accountable and people-oriented leadership in Ebonyi State, warning against political sycophancy.
Nwite made the call in a statement issued to journalists in Abakaliki on Thursday, while commending the state governor for his openness and what he described as a genuine commitment to improving the lives of the people.
He said no governor since the creation of Ebonyi State had given ordinary citizens as much access to express their concerns and seek solutions to their problems.
However, the senatorial hopeful expressed concern that the influence of political stakeholders surrounding the administration could undermine the state’s development.
“The biggest obstacle to the progress of Ebonyi lies in the circle of political stakeholders around the administration. Too many are sycophants whose primary interest is personal enrichment, not the collective growth and development of our communities,” he said.
Nwite attributed some of the frustrations among residents to what he described as the continued recycling of political actors who served under previous administrations, including those of his late father, Senator Polycarp Nwite, and former Governor Sam Egwu.
Recalling the early years of the state, he said his father had warned Egwu against surrounding himself with sycophants, arguing that such a political culture could hinder Ebonyi’s progress.
“Thirty years later, it is disheartening that Ebonyi still grapples with the consequences of that flawed foundation. A state cannot make meaningful progress when truth is sacrificed at the altar of flattery and constructive criticism is ignored,” he stated.
He further warned that the governor’s legacy could be undermined if those around him prioritised praise and personal interests over honest advice and the welfare of the people.
According to Nwite, the governor risks being remembered not for his achievements but for an administration allegedly influenced by praise-singers.
Seeking the mandate of Ebonyi North voters to represent the district in the Senate in 2027, the Accord Party candidate pledged to promote transparency, inclusion and people-centred governance.
“As I seek your mandate to represent Ebonyi North in the Senate in 2027 under the Accord Party, I commit to a politics of truth, service and inclusion,” he said.
He added that the people deserved representatives who would hold those in power accountable, defend the interests of ordinary citizens and pursue policies capable of creating jobs and improving infrastructure, education and healthcare across communities in Ebonyi North.
“The time to build a new foundation for Ebonyi is now. A foundation where the voice of the people matters more than the noise of praise-singers. Ebonyi deserves better,” he concluded.