Igbakpa Throws Weight Behind Dafinone’s Second-Term Bid, Clarifies Constituency Project Funding

Former House of Representatives member and All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, Hon. Chief Ben Igbakpa, has endorsed Senator Ede Dafinone for another term in the National Assembly, urging voters in Delta Central Senatorial District to give the senator another mandate in 2027.

Igbakpa spoke when Dafinone, who represents Delta Central in the Senate, paid him a consultation visit at his residence in Sapele Local Government Area as part of his preparations for the 2027 election.

The former lawmaker, however, used the meeting to address what he described as a widespread misunderstanding about the role of legislators in constituency projects.

Igbakpa explained that lawmakers do not receive or directly control funds for constituency projects. According to him, their responsibility is largely to identify and nominate projects, while funding and implementation rest with the executive.

“There is no money given directly to any legislator. You only have the privilege to nominate projects from your area. If the executive does not fund the project, there is nothing you can do,” he said.

He argued that constituents should therefore distinguish between a lawmaker’s role in advocating for projects and the responsibility of government agencies to provide the funds and execute them.

According to Igbakpa, legislators can deploy their positions, influence and relationships to draw attention to the needs of their constituencies, but they do not have direct access to the funds attached to projects they nominate.

Turning to Dafinone’s performance, Igbakpa said the senator had made significant progress in his first term by building relationships and establishing contacts beyond Delta State.

He described the senator’s performance as commendable, particularly given the relatively short period he has spent in the National Assembly. He said Dafinone had quickly familiarised himself with the workings of the Senate and used his interactions with people and institutions to create opportunities that could benefit Delta Central and the wider Urhobo community.

Igbakpa said the relationships established during the first term should be seen as groundwork for greater results in the future, arguing that returning Dafinone to the Senate would give him an opportunity to consolidate on what he had started.

He also praised the senator for combining legislative duties with wider political and professional engagements, noting that effective representation requires more than simply participating in proceedings on the floor of the Senate.

The APC chieftain, who said he follows Dafinone’s activities on social media, expressed satisfaction with the senator’s approach to political engagement.

On the state of the APC in Delta Central, Igbakpa said earlier disagreements and communication gaps among party stakeholders had been resolved.

“At first, there was a misunderstanding, so there was no deal. Our line of communication was zigzag. But now, we are back together as one,” he said.

He pledged to support Dafinone and work with other APC leaders and members towards securing victory for the party in the 2027 elections.

“We are in the APC, and we will work assiduously to ensure that we win,” Igbakpa said.

Earlier, Dafinone urged APC members in Ethiope East and across Delta Central to strengthen their grassroots structures ahead of the elections.

He called on party members to engage directly with voters, identify challenges at polling-unit level and build stronger cooperation among themselves.

“Go and meet those who may disrupt your efforts. We must unite to secure a decisive victory. Let’s work together as one team,” Dafinone told the party members.

He said it was his responsibility to take the party’s message to the grassroots and urged members to pass the message on to other supporters as the APC intensifies preparations for the 2027 elections.