Edo South 2027: Bibi Unveils 65-Point People's Manifesto, Pledges Sweeping Legislative Reforms

Senate hopeful for Edo South Senatorial District and standard-bearer of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Comrade Sunny "Bibi" Aguebor, has unveiled an ambitious 65-point legislative agenda ahead of the 2027 general elections, promising far-reaching reforms aimed at strengthening democratic governance, deepening accountability, promoting social justice, stimulating economic growth, and improving the welfare of Nigerians.

The comprehensive policy document, titled "The People's Manifesto," outlines Aguebor's legislative vision should he be elected to represent Edo South in the Senate. Anchored on the philosophy that "the business of lawmaking is to be on the side of the people," the manifesto presents a broad range of proposals covering constitutional reforms, electoral restructuring, economic development, education, healthcare, labour, security, agriculture, and social welfare.

One of the manifesto's most prominent proposals is a constitutional amendment to remove the immunity currently enjoyed by the President, Vice President, Governors, and Deputy Governors under Section 308 of the 1999 Constitution. According to Aguebor, abolishing executive immunity would enhance transparency in public office, strengthen the fight against corruption, and ensure greater accountability among political office holders.

The manifesto also seeks legislation to abolish the offices of the First Lady at both federal and state levels, arguing that the position has no constitutional backing and should not continue to receive public funding.

On social welfare, the Edo South Senate hopeful pledged to sponsor bills abolishing taxes imposed on street hawkers, introducing unemployment benefits, expanding social protection programmes for widows, widowers, persons living with disabilities, and other vulnerable groups, while promoting affordable housing and implementing measures to curb exploitative rental practices.

As part of efforts to improve public institutions, Aguebor proposed legislation compelling elected and appointed public office holders, alongside members of their immediate families, to patronise government-owned schools, hospitals, and other public facilities. He maintained that such a policy would encourage leaders to experience firsthand the quality of public services and inspire meaningful reforms across critical sectors.

Transparency and accountability feature prominently throughout the legislative blueprint. The manifesto advocates laws requiring ministries, departments, agencies, educational institutions, and all publicly funded establishments to regularly publish details of their revenues, budgetary allocations, and expenditures. It also proposes mandatory public disclosure of all Public-Private Partnership (PPP) agreements executed by governments at every level.

In the education sector, Aguebor promised to champion free and quality education, reduce tuition fees in public tertiary institutions, abolish discriminatory tuition policies based on state of origin, make History and Human Rights compulsory subjects in schools, guarantee student representation on governing councils of tertiary institutions, and establish democratic procedures for appointing Vice-Chancellors, Rectors, and Provosts.

To tackle unemployment, food insecurity, and rural underdevelopment, the manifesto proposes the revival of farm settlements across Nigeria's 774 local government areas, expansion of mechanised agriculture through partnerships with host communities, establishment of agricultural processing centres, and development of waste recycling facilities capable of generating electricity while creating sustainable employment opportunities.

Healthcare reforms also occupy a central place in the manifesto. Aguebor pledged to advocate legislation providing free and comprehensive healthcare services, rehabilitation and construction of medical facilities, recruitment of additional healthcare professionals, creation of emergency medical intervention funds for indigent citizens, expansion of alternative medicine departments in tertiary institutions, and improved emergency medical response systems nationwide.

On security, the NDC candidate proposed legislation establishing community security committees and forest guards, compulsory registration of mobile phone IMEI numbers to enhance crime detection, and DNA registration for newborns through government-owned health facilities to strengthen criminal investigations, improve public safety and also reduce the menace of paternity fraud that has caused social dislocation for so many families 

The manifesto equally calls for extensive electoral and constitutional reforms, including full implementation of the recommendations of the Justice Mohammed Uwais Electoral Reform Committee, the convocation of a genuine Sovereign National Conference, and the replacement of the 1999 Constitution with what Aguebor described as a "People's Constitution" that truly reflects the aspirations and collective will of Nigerians.

For workers, Aguebor pledged legislation prescribing criminal sanctions against employers who fail to pay salaries and pensions, strengthening collective bargaining agreements, enforcing equal pay for work of equal value, and improving remuneration and welfare packages for teachers, healthcare workers, engineers, agricultural professionals, and security personnel.

To stimulate economic growth and strengthen local industries, the manifesto advocates mandatory government patronage of Made-in-Nigeria products, an end to further privatisation of public assets, abolition of multiple taxation, improved compensation for mineral-producing communities, and greater transparency in defence budgeting and public procurement processes.

Other notable proposals include legislation to regulate excessive burial expenses, replace separate Christian Religious Knowledge and Islamic Religious Knowledge with Comparative Religious Studies, establish an international airport in either Edo Central or Edo North Senatorial District, expand sports infrastructure in educational institutions, declare World Human Rights Day a national public holiday, and strengthen community-based policing across the country.

As part of his accountability agenda, Aguebor pledged to institutionalise quarterly town hall meetings across the seven local government areas of Edo South Senatorial District to present stewardship reports, engage constituents directly, and receive feedback on his legislative activities.

Speaking on the unveiling of the manifesto, Aguebor described the document as a social contract between himself and the people.

"This manifesto is a covenant with the people. It represents my commitment to champion laws that will improve governance, restore public confidence in leadership, create opportunities for our youths, protect the vulnerable, and make life more meaningful for every Nigerian," he said.

He appealed to the electorate in Edo South Senatorial District to support his aspiration, assuring them of accessible, transparent, and accountable representation if elected to the Senate in 2027.

Political observers believe the 65-point legislative agenda positions Aguebor's campaign around constitutional reform, institutional accountability, economic revitalisation, quality public services, social welfare, and active citizen participation—issues expected to dominate political discourse as preparations for the 2027 general elections continue to gather momentum.