David Olofu, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate for the Benue South Senatorial District, has pledged to establish a People’s Assembly and People’s Council to strengthen representation, accountability and development planning in the district if elected in the 2027 general elections. Olofu, a former Benue Commissioner for Finance, made the promise on Tuesday in Makurdi while presenting his agenda for the senatorial district.
He said the proposed People’s Assembly would bring together representatives from the nine local government areas, including council chairmen, councillors and members of the state and National Assembly, regardless of their political affiliations. According to him, the assembly would meet annually to identify and prioritise the needs of residents, while the council would translate the resolutions into a development agenda for elected representatives.
Olofu said the development agenda would guide elected officials in budget preparation and project implementation at both state and federal levels. He added that, if elected, he would take the priorities identified by the people to the National Assembly and work to ensure that projects and programmes considered necessary for the district were reflected in the national budget. His proposed structure is also aimed at closing the gap between elected representatives and their constituents.
The ADC candidate said the People’s Council would comprise key stakeholders who could also serve as a lobbying team for the district when necessary. He said the arrangement would promote continuity by ensuring that development priorities were sustained even when elected representatives changed, while encouraging lawmakers to work together despite political differences because their mandates came from the same people.
Olofu also promised to develop a comprehensive development plan for Benue South to serve as a roadmap for elected representatives and provide measurable targets for assessing their performance.
He urged constituents to judge their representatives by tangible achievements rather than promises, saying the proposed system would give residents greater influence in defining development priorities and holding their elected officials accountable.
