The Housing Development Advocacy Network (HDAN), a prominent civil society group in Nigeria’s housing sector, has urged voters in the upcoming Edo governorship elections to support candidates who prioritize housing in their manifestos
HDAN stressed that this is a crucial moment for the electorate to demand policies that address the housing needs of Edo residents, a significant factor for economic growth and job creation.
In a statement released on Friday by HDAN’s Executive Director, Festus Adebayo, the leading advocacy group highlighted the need for candidates to integrate housing into their agendas.
Adebayo emphasized that the power of the electorate is strongest during election campaigns when politicians are eager to win votes. He also encouraged politicians to make housing a central part of their constituency projects, underlining the role of housing in generating employment and fostering economic development.
Adebayo reiterated that housing is not just about shelter but a key driver of national development, with the potential to unlock new economic opportunities for young people. He called on the Nigerian government and legislative bodies to take housing more seriously and commit to greater investment in this sector.
The three leading candidates in the Edo governorship race, representing the All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and Labour Party (LP), each bring diverse ideas and backgrounds to the housing and governance discourse in the state.
Senator Monday Okpebholo is running for the APC and is known for his focus on community development and public service. He has promised initiatives like free transportation services to enhance mobility and economic activity for residents.
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Asue Ighodalo, representing the PDP, is running on a platform called “Pathway to Prosperity for All,” which focuses on security, women and youth empowerment, education, agriculture, and rural development. Ighodalo has pledged to prioritize industrialization and collaboration with the Edo diaspora to spur growth across the state.
The Labour Party’s candidate, Olumide Akpata, former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), has gained traction for his forward-thinking approach. Akpata’s manifesto focuses on economic revitalization, infrastructure development, and improved access to education, healthcare, and social welfare.
In addition to advocating for housing policy reforms, HDAN’s statement also extended an invitation to the candidates to discuss their housing strategies in public forums. Adebayo emphasized that affordable housing should be a fundamental part of any serious governance plan in the state.
The group also called attention to opportunities for mortgage education and awareness, encouraging mortgage banks to step forward with products and services that could help residents achieve homeownership.
As Edo prepares for its elections on September 21, 2024, the need for sound housing policies has become a focal point of HDAN’s message to both candidates and voters alike.
