Political tensions in Imo State have intensified following a blistering attack by the Executive Director of Civic Action for Democracy (CAD), Mazi Franklin Ngoforo, on the member representing Ideato North/South Federal Constituency, Hon. Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere. Ngoforo accused the federal lawmaker of dishonesty, poor representation, and what he described as a fundamental betrayal of the mandate freely given to him by the people of Ideato.
In a statement issued in Abuja, Ngoforo alleged that Ugochinyere has made a habit of claiming credit for projects he neither initiated nor facilitated, particularly infrastructure executed by the Imo State Government under Governor Hope Uzodimma in Ideato land.
Central to the controversy is the ongoing Orlu–Mgbee–Umuchima–Akokwa Road project, now nearing completion. Ngoforo dismissed as “shameful and misleading” claims allegedly being circulated by Ugochinyere and his supporters that the road was facilitated through federal intervention by the lawmaker.
“This is not only false; it is an insult to the intelligence of the Ideato people,” Ngoforo said.
He explained that facilitation of federal projects by a lawmaker follows a clearly established process, including nomination into the federal budget, legislative defence, engagement with relevant ministries and agencies, and sustained oversight to ensure execution. According to Ngoforo, there is no evidence that Ugochinyere undertook any of these steps in relation to the road project.
Ngoforo further cited Governor Uzodimma’s repeated public assertions that his administration has never received refunds from the federal government for federal roads executed in Imo State. He noted that the governor has consistently explained that such projects are undertaken out of necessity and compassion for residents, rather than waiting indefinitely for federal approvals.
Against this background, Ngoforo painted what he described as a grim picture of the absence of federal presence in Ideato, despite Ugochinyere’s position in the National Assembly.
He was particularly critical of the lawmaker’s tenure as Chairman of the House Committee on Petroleum (Downstream), a strategic committee with significant influence in Nigeria’s critical oil and gas sector. Ngoforo alleged that, despite holding such a powerful position, Ugochinyere has failed to secure a single employment opportunity for Ideato indigenes in the petroleum industry, including the NNPC and its subsidiaries.
The CAD director further accused the lawmaker of deploying his influence largely in favour of private corporate interests, especially the Dangote Group, without translating such proximity into tangible benefits for his constituents.
“Ideato people see the Dangote Group flourish and vehemently defended by their lawmaker, yet they see no Ideato youth employed, no Ideato contractor empowered, and no Ideato community uplifted,” Ngoforo said.
On economic empowerment, Ngoforo described it as tragic that a constituency known for its entrepreneurial drive has allegedly been denied access to information, mentorship, and intervention funds from federal institutions such as the Bank of Industry and the Bank of Agriculture, both of which disburse substantial funding to small and medium-scale enterprises nationwide.
Ngoforo also reflected on what he termed Ideato’s lost glory, recalling the 1980s and 1990s when the area thrived as a major industrial and commercial hub in the South-East. He lamented that once-prominent enterprises, including Ibeneme Motors, have faded into history, arguing that the decline demanded visionary leadership, consistent constituency engagement, and a coherent economic revival agenda.
He accused Ugochinyere of failing on all counts, alleging that the lawmaker has neither held constituency briefings nor mobilised stakeholders around any clear development blueprint for Ideato.
Ngoforo accused the lawmaker of political double- dealing, alleging that Ugochinyere continues to encourage supporters to align with the Action Peoples Party (APP), which he noted was deregistered by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in 2020, a decision later upheld by the Supreme Court.
According to Ngoforo, the lawmaker is fully aware of the party’s legal status, which explains why he contested the 2023 general election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He further alleged that while publicly promoting a defunct party, Ugochinyere is quietly negotiating for the African Democratic Congress (ADC) ticket ahead of the 2027 elections.
Ngoforo urged the people of Ideato to “reclaim their mandate,” describing the current representation as “inept, chaotic, visionless, unpatriotic, loud, insulting and deceitful.”
He also accused the lawmaker of showing unprecedented disdain for his constituents, citing as particularly troubling the claim that no Ideato indigene is employed in Ugochinyere’s legislative office, a situation he described as virtually unheard of among Nigerian lawmakers.
Efforts to obtain a response from Hon. Ugochinyere were unsuccessful, as calls to his known phone lines were neither answered nor returned as of the time of filing this report.
