By Stella Odueme
Ugochukwu Young, candidate of the Young Progressive Party (YPP) for the AMAC/Bwari Federal Constituency of the Federal Capital Territory, has pledged to promote people-centred representation and legislative reforms if elected to the House of Representatives.
Young made the commitment on Wednesday in Abuja while interacting with members of the Association of Corporate Online Editors (ACOE), where he outlined his political ambition and proposed legislative agenda.
He said his decision to contest was informed by the need to contribute to Nigeria’s political development and bring fresh ideas into the Green Chamber.
According to him, he initially stayed away from politics because he believed it did not concern him, but later realised that decisions taken by political office holders directly affect the lives, welfare and future of citizens.
Young said his understanding of the constitutional responsibilities of lawmakers, particularly their role in scrutinising and checking executive actions, strengthened his decision to seek elective office.
He said he would promote a system in which elected representatives remain accountable to the people and ensure that constituency priorities are determined through direct engagement with residents.
“My agenda is the people’s agenda,” Young said, adding that elected representatives should not take personal credit for projects funded by government.
He proposed quarterly town hall meetings across the constituency, where residents would identify their most pressing needs and participate in determining projects to be pursued through constituency representation.
The candidate also identified rent regulation as a key area of his proposed legislative programme, citing the increasing burden of accommodation costs on young Nigerians.
He said he would work with other lawmakers to pursue measures aimed at checking excessive rent increases and related charges.
Young further pledged to deploy his foundation to provide pro-bono legal assistance to residents facing eviction or disputes arising from tenancy matters.
On security, he said his team was examining technology-driven solutions to tackle “one-chance” robbery and enhance the identification of vehicles allegedly used in criminal activities.
He also promised to encourage greater youth participation in politics by creating awareness about the political process and motivating young Nigerians to contest elective positions.
Young said education, healthcare and other community needs would also form part of his agenda, with interventions based on priorities identified by constituents.
The businessman and politician said accountability would remain central to his representation, promising to maintain regular communication with constituents through physical engagements and digital platforms.
Young, who hails from Anambra State and has lived in the FCT for more than 15 years, said he studied Electrical/Electronics Engineering and is Chairman of Ugo Group, with business interests in hospitality, construction, real estate, automobiles and logistics.
He also said he was contesting without the backing of a political godfather, stressing that this would enable him to remain focused on what he described as the interests of the people.
The YPP candidate said he would rather leave political office and return to his business if he could not make a positive contribution to governance than compromise his principles to retain power.