ABUJA/Nigeria: Barr. Ebitimi Alexander Ogbomah, Legislative Assistant to Hon. Nicholas Ebomo Mutu, has strongly defended his principal against calls to step down after over two decades of representing the Bomadi/Patani Federal Constituency, insisting that Mutu’s service remains fully rooted in constitutional law and the continuous trust of his constituents.
Ogbomah, responding to an open letter demanding that Mutu vacate his seat, pointed to findings showing that more than 70 percent of the roads crisscrossing Patani town—the headquarters of Patani Local Government Area and other surrounding communities were influenced through Mutu’s efforts at the federal level. He described the lawmaker’s tenure as one defined by visible development strides and steadfast adherence to democratic principles.
He emphasized that under Section 64(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999, as amended), the National Assembly “shall stand dissolved at the expiration of a period of four years” from its first sitting, without setting any term limits for legislators. He added that Section 65 outlines only the age, citizenship, and educational qualifications required to contest, with no restriction on the number of terms a member may serve.
Drawing parallels with the United States, Ogbomah cited examples of longstanding U.S. lawmakers like Senator Robert C. Byrd, who served 51 years, and Senator Strom Thurmond, who served for 47 years, noting that extended legislative careers often reflect deep-rooted voter confidence, not democratic failure.
“Every Nigerian who meets the constitutional requirements has the right to seek election,” Ogbomah said. “The ballot box not arbitrary term ceilings is the true measure of public approval. In a constituency with tens of thousands of voters, the voice of a single critic cannot override the broad mandate given at the polls.”
Highlighting Hon. Mutu’s impact, Ogbomah pointed to numerous road rehabilitation projects, newly built health centres, scholarship programmes, and electrification projects that have transformed Bomadi and Patani communities under his watch.
“These are not mere claims but verifiable achievements, clear dividends of democracy delivered through consistent and effective representation,” he said. Ogbomah reaffirmed Mutu’s commitment to delivering even more to his constituents and invited any dissenting voices to challenge his principal legitimately at the 2027 polls rather than resort to calls outside the bounds of constitutional democracy.
