A former presidential aide, Dr Ughogho Garrick, of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has formally declared to contest the Egor/Ikpoba-Okha Federal Constituency seat at the 2027 general elections.
Garrick anchored his campaign on decentralised power, youth empowerment, and aggressive attraction of federal projects.
Declaring yesyerday in Ward II, Egor Local Government Area of Edo, the APC chieftain told party members and supporters that his background in public administration and policy gave him an edge to deliver effective representation.
“I deliberately chose public administration and went on to earn a Ph.D because I knew I must have the capacity as a legislator to understand policy.
“I have the experience of how to attract projects into a constituency and how to work with ministries and the National Assembly”, he said.
As a former Special Assistant in the Presidency, between 2003 and 2007, Garrick said he understood the mechanisms required to influence federal interventions in areas such as roads, agriculture, and power.
“The new power reforms have decentralised electricity; individuals and groups can now generate and distribute power.
“We will work with solar companies and support mini-grid systems so that our youths can power businesses and create jobs”, he said.
He added that under his watch, youth cooperatives would be established across wards to mobilise funding, build skills, and facilitate exposure to international markets.
Garrick also pledged to prioritise infrastructure, particularly road connectivity, describing Edo as a strategic gateway state.
He promised to ensure that the Federal Government fixed critical roads linking Edo to Abuja and Lagos.
He further said he would complement the ongoing efforts of the Edo Government by attracting federal investments to deepen development gains.
Garrick emphasised that his aspiration was rooted in a history of grassroots impact, citing his private sector initiative, ‘Eminence Water’, which he said supported small-scale entrepreneurs through informal credit schemes.
Earlier, APC leader in the ward, Mr Moses Idahosa, described Garrick as a well-rounded aspirant with a strong pedigree in business, academics, and community service.
“We are presenting an exceptional individual who has the capacity and the background to serve the people effectively,” Idahosa said.
