Youths in Afikpo Local Council of Ebonyi State have protested against an alleged 25-year persistent electricity blackout, which has disrupted socio-economic activities.

They warned that electoral participation in the area may be resisted next year unless power is restored.

The protesters mobilised in large numbers across major streets, decrying systemic infrastructural neglect despite the area’s long-standing contribution to the state’s political leadership structure, which, according to them, includes representation at federal, state, and local government levels.

They carried placards with various inscriptions, reinforcing their demand for immediate power restoration. They repeatedly insisted that failure to address the crisis could affect both local council elections and the broader 2027 electoral cycle.

They maintained that Afikpo has remained in prolonged energy deprivation for more than 25 years, a condition they argued has stifled development, education, enterprise, and overall quality of life.

Speaking on behalf of the Odinma Afikpo socio-civic group, Charles Otu, a social commentator, described the protest as a demand for civic accountability rather than political antagonism.

Otu said elected representatives from the area must be held responsible for persistent infrastructural stagnation, stressing that public criticism should not be misconstrued as hostility.

He recalled multiple failed intervention promises over the years, including a 2019 assurance reportedly made during the administration of former Governor David Umahi, which pledged restoration of electricity before the general elections that year.

According to him, a five-member implementation committee comprising indigenes was subsequently constituted but yielded no tangible outcome.

“In 2019, we were assured that the Afikpo light would be restored before the elections. A committee was inaugurated. Nothing materialised,” he said.

Otu further referenced renewed agitation in 2022 and 2024, noting that despite recurring public assurances and stakeholder engagements, including a reported financial intervention under Governor Francis Nwifuru amounting to N208 million, the project has remained uncompleted.

He cited the 133kV substation at Amasiri as a critical infrastructure asset whose rehabilitation, according to him, has remained unresolved since 2001.

“Two decades later, the question remains: why is it difficult to energise a substation that has existed for over 20 years?” he queried.

He also highlighted the generational implications of the blackout, noting that individuals born around the inception of the project have now reached adulthood without experiencing stable electricity in their communities.

Otu stated that the community’s position has crystallised into a collective demand summarised as “No light, no vote,” warning that political campaigns and electoral activities may face resistance if the situation remains unresolved.

He, however, rejected attempts to delegitimise the agitation, particularly accusations that public criticism of elected officials amounted to misconduct.

Another protester, Iheukwumere Okogwu Otu, described Afikpo’s situation as “normalised infrastructural deprivation,” arguing that the absence of electricity over decades has fundamentally impaired human capital development.

He noted that despite the presence of high-ranking political office holders from the area, including members of the House of Representatives, state assembly members, commissioners, and the deputy governor, basic energy infrastructure has remained non-functional.

“This is a community with highly educated citizens, including postgraduate degree holders, yet we continue to operate under energy deprivation that has lasted generations,” he said.

He warned that the agitation would persist unless concrete intervention is undertaken, reiterating the community’s resolve to resist electoral participation under current conditions.

Also, a respondent, Lady Sheravin Mbe recalled that Afikpo once experienced functional electricity decades ago before the gradual collapse of supply.

She said younger generations have grown up without experiential knowledge of stable electricity, creating a disconnect between historical reality and present conditions.

Mbe also referenced earlier female-led advocacy efforts within the community, noting that previous attempts at restoration were allegedly undermined despite sustained mobilisation.

She called for urgent reconsideration of the energy crisis, stressing its implications for intergenerational development and social memory.

When contacted by telephone, the State Commissioner for Power and Energy, Mr Peter Ogali, said he would only respond officially to the media when met in his office. (The Guardian)