The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate for the Etsako East, Etsako West and Etsako Central Federal Constituency, Bawa Muhammed Qaleep, has outlined an economic and political agenda he says is aimed at moving the constituency away from dependence on short-term political assistance.

Bawa presented his proposals while engaging community stakeholders, youth groups and traders during his campaign activities in the constituency.

The candidate described his programme, known as the “Efua” (Light) Manifesto, as a three-part agenda built around social, economic and political integration across the three local government areas that make up the federal constituency.

According to Bawa, his campaign is focused on what he described as replacing what he considers short-term political gestures with initiatives capable of creating sustainable economic opportunities for residents.

He argued that political representation should go beyond distributing temporary assistance and should instead contribute to creating opportunities for people to build sustainable livelihoods.

A central component of his proposed economic programme is the establishment of an Etsako Enterprise Sinking Fund, which he said would operate as a revolving source of capital for youth-led businesses.

Bawa said the proposed mechanism would be used to organise trained but unemployed young people into cooperative enterprises and provide them with productive assets such as agro-processing equipment, industrial machinery and logistics infrastructure.

Under the model he described, the enterprises would generate income from the assets, repay subsidised capital and allow the funds to be recycled into other businesses.

The NDC candidate said the objective would be to move young people from seeking employment opportunities to participating directly in businesses and owning productive assets.

Bawa also linked his economic proposals to his vision for greater cooperation among the three LGAs.

He argued that businesses jointly owned or operated by people from different parts of Etsako could encourage greater economic interdependence and reduce the influence of local divisions in political and social affairs.

He said his proposed approach would encourage residents to think beyond individual communities and focus on economic projects capable of benefiting people across Etsako East, Etsako West and Etsako Central.

On legislative representation, Bawa said he would seek a more active role for the constituency in the National Assembly if elected.

He said his priorities would include pursuing federal infrastructure projects, advocating for improved security for farming communities and using the constituency’s representation to advance economic interests.

The candidate also criticised what he described as a longstanding culture of political dependence in the area, arguing that residents should demand measurable development and economic opportunities from their representatives.

Bawa further pointed to his private-sector experience as part of his background for seeking public office. He said his experience managing businesses, workers and commercial contracts had exposed him to practical challenges facing entrepreneurs and workers outside government.

He contrasted that experience with what he described as a political culture dominated by career politicians and patronage.

On the forthcoming election, Bawa expressed confidence in the NDC's prospects and said his campaign was gaining support among residents who, in his assessment, were looking for a different approach to political representation.

That assessment remains a campaign claim rather than an established electoral outcome. The 2027 House of Representatives election has yet to take place, and current candidate listings identify Bawa Muhammed Qaleep as the NDC candidate for the Etsako East/Etsako West/Etsako Central constituency.

The constituency covers the three Etsako local government areas and has been represented in previous National Assembly elections by candidates from different political parties. In the 2023 election, Anamero Sunday Dekeri of the APC won the seat, according to published election records.

For Bawa, the central message of the current campaign is that political representation should be tied to economic opportunity, particularly for young people. His proposed Enterprise Sinking Fund and wider “Triple Integration Agenda” remain campaign proposals that would require legislative, administrative and financial mechanisms to implement if he is elected.

As campaigning continues, voters in Etsako will ultimately be presented with competing candidates and policy proposals ahead of the 2027 election.