By Sylvia Akpan
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Cross River State House of Assembly candidate for Yakurr 1 State Constituency in the 2027 general elections, James Ibor, Esq., has called on citizens to become actively involved in politics, arguing that the failure of credible individuals to participate in governance has created room for incompetent leadership.
Ibor, a human rights Lawyer, made the call during an interview with Journalists in Calabar while explaining his decision to venture into politics, despite years of advocacy for human rights and public accountability.
He said his decision to contest was motivated by the need to prevent the continued mismanagement of public resources, stressing that individuals with integrity and proven capacity must participate in decisions concerning the allocation and management of public funds.
According to him, the dominance of individuals he described as irresponsible in the political space is largely a consequence of the absence of credible people from the system.
“The only reason why charlatans and hooligans are taking over the political space and dishing out bad governance is because we have failed to occupy the space. And nature abhors a vacuum,” he said.
On what he hopes to do differently if elected, Ibor challenged constituents and the general public to scrutinize his record rather than rely on political promises.
He maintained that his years in civil society had demonstrated his commitment to transparency, accountability and the protection of fundamental human rights.
The candidate disclosed that his organization had accounted for funds received for projects and supported the rehabilitation of more than 1,300 women and children across different states.
He also challenged his political opponents to make their professional and public service records available for scrutiny, arguing that transparency should be a fundamental requirement for anyone seeking public office.
“Can you please investigate me? I have published my profile. Iniquity, wickedness and corruption thrive in secrecy. People will fear your questions,” he stated.
Barr. Ibor described the absence of credible leadership as a major obstacle to development, insisting that individuals who have demonstrated accountability in their personal and professional engagements are better positioned to manage public resources.
Addressing the challenges encountered during his campaign, he identified voter apathy and attempts to discourage citizens from participating in elections as major concerns.
He alleged that some political actors were telling constituents that their votes would not count because the elections would eventually be manipulated.
However, he urged voters not to surrender to such narratives, expressing confidence that citizens could determine electoral outcomes through their participation.
The PDP candidate also condemned vote buying, accusing some politicians of using money to secure electoral support instead of presenting verifiable records of their performance in office.
He argued that public officeholders should campaign on the strength of projects executed and their contributions to community development rather than distribute money to voters.
“Any responsible leader ought, during the campaign, to be showing people projects, not to be dashing people’s money. Show us the projects you have performed and the project will speak loudly, even better than the money you are giving,” he said.
He, however, encouraged voters to collect money offered by politicians but remain guided by their conscience when casting their ballots.
The Activist urged constituents to assess candidates based on their track records, competence and commitment to public service rather than financial inducements.
He concluded by appealing to voters to support the PDP, describing the party as a platform broad enough to accommodate the interests of the people.
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