Ogbokuma Aselemi Unveils People-Centred Agenda For Rivers West, Promises Electoral Reform, Environmental Justice
Chief Hon. Dr. Progress Ogbokuma Aselemi, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate for Rivers West Senatorial District, has unveiled an ambitious legislative and development agenda anchored on electoral reform, environmental justice, youth empowerment, community participation and accountable representation.
Aselemi, who spoke on his political experience, legislative priorities and vision for Rivers West, said his years in opposition politics, particularly as Chairman of the African Action Congress (AAC) in Rivers State, had exposed him to the challenges confronting Nigeria's political system and strengthened his commitment to accountability and inclusive governance.
According to him, his experience in opposition politics taught him that the political system remains structurally tilted against ordinary citizens, citing the high cost of political participation, alleged weaponisation of state institutions against opposition voices and weaknesses in internal party democracy.
He said the experience also convinced him that Rivers people were seeking credible alternatives rather than merely alternative political parties.
Aselemi pledged that, if elected to represent Rivers West in the National Assembly, he would remain a senator for all constituents, prioritise electoral justice and political inclusion, and maintain an advocacy-driven approach to representation.
"My opposition background is not a liability; it is my training in accountability," he said.
Electoral Reforms
On electoral reform, the SDP candidate said credible elections were fundamental to sustainable development and promised to pursue far-reaching changes in the electoral system if elected.
He proposed amendments to Sections 60 and 64 of the Electoral Act 2022 to strengthen the mandatory use of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and electronic transmission of polling-unit results, including clear legal consequences for non-compliance.
He also pledged to champion the establishment of an independent National Electoral Offences Commission with prosecutorial powers, arguing that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should not simultaneously serve as electoral umpire and prosecutor.
Other proposed reforms include the introduction of early voting for security personnel, INEC officials and accredited election observers who may be unable to vote on election day, as well as stronger provisions under Section 84 of the Electoral Act to tackle delegate buying, manipulation of party primaries and imposition of candidates.
Environmental Justice for Rivers West
Aselemi also placed environmental remediation at the centre of his proposed representation, particularly in communities affected by decades of oil exploration and production.
He promised to pursue what he described as a Rivers West Environmental Remediation Bill, aimed at establishing a scientifically audited inventory of polluted sites across communities in the Orashi and Kalabari-Bonny axes.
He further proposed amendments to the NOSDRA and Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) frameworks to impose stronger penalties on repeat environmental offenders and dedicate a portion of Host Community Development Trust Funds to environmental restoration and mangrove regeneration.
He also proposed a Niger Delta Mangrove Restoration Fund to support shoreline protection, flood control and sustainable fishing in vulnerable coastal communities, including Bonny, Kula and Abonnema.
Community Participation and Transparency
The SDP candidate said genuine development in the Niger Delta must move beyond consultation to what he described as "community co-ownership."
He proposed the establishment of statutory Community Project Councils comprising traditional leaders, women, youths and persons with disabilities to participate in the identification, location and monitoring of federal intervention projects in Rivers West.
Aselemi also promised to publish quarterly information on funds accruing to his senatorial office and constituency-related allocations, while organising bi-annual Town Hall Budget Sessions across the district's eight local government areas.
He said he would also advocate for the enforcement of the principle of Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC), insisting that communities must have a documented voice in development decisions affecting their land, water and livelihoods.
Youth Empowerment Through Productive Enterprise
On youth unemployment, Aselemi rejected what he described as an overreliance on stipends and the distribution of items such as motorcycles and sewing machines.
Instead, he proposed a Rivers West Productive Economy Model (RW-PEM), built around agro-industrial clusters, skills development and access to enterprise finance.
Under the proposed model, an Orashi Food Production Cluster would focus on cassava, plantain and rice processing in areas including Ahoada and Abua/Odual; a Kalabari Aquaculture and Marine Services Cluster would promote fish farming, cold-chain services and boat building; while a Bonny Energy Services Cluster would train young people in areas such as CNG conversion, solar installation and oil and gas facility maintenance.
He also proposed a 12-month apprenticeship tax credit for companies that train and retain young people from Rivers West, alongside a Rivers West Enterprise Fund to provide low-interest financing to young entrepreneurs.
Aselemi said he would further advocate for a statutory allocation of part of the Niger Delta Development Commission's budget to youth enterprise development.
Accountability as a Social Contract
The SDP candidate said accountability would form a central pillar of his representation, stressing that legislation must remain the primary responsibility of a senator, followed by oversight and constituency development.
He pledged to publish a four-year legislative plan within his first 90 days in office and issue quarterly Senator's Scorecards detailing bills sponsored, motions moved, oversight activities and the status of constituency projects.
He also proposed an Independent Constituency Performance Review Committee comprising non-partisan professionals, clergy and students from Rivers West to independently assess his performance and publish an annual report.
According to him, quarterly town hall meetings would also be rotated among the eight local government areas to ensure that representation remains connected to the people at the grassroots.
"Restoring the Voice of the People"
Aselemi said the biggest change he wants voters to associate with his mandate is the restoration of the people's voice in governance.
"If the people of Rivers West give me a four-year mandate under the SDP, I want them to associate my representation with one change: restoring the voice of the people in power," he said.
He argued that Rivers West had for too long been represented without being sufficiently heard, with decisions affecting communities often made without meaningful participation from the people themselves.
Aselemi said his ultimate measure of success would be whether farmers, fisherfolk, traders and young people across Rivers West could look back after four years and say they had a senator who listened, made public the workings of his office and fought for laws that protected their environment, votes and future.
"That is what Progress means: People First," he declared.
