Meet Engr. Chidi Onyema: The Next Man to Represent Ezeagu State Constituency
In every community, the search for purposeful leadership is ultimately a search for someone whose experience, character and record of service inspire confidence. For Ezeagu State Constituency in Enugu State, Engr. Chidi Lemion Onyema is presenting himself as a candidate whose professional accomplishments, community involvement and grassroots connections could translate into effective representation in the Enugu State House of Assembly.
Born into the family of the late Mr. Jerome Onyema and Mrs. Rose Onyema, Chidi is one of twin boys, alongside his brother, Onyeka Remigius Onyema. His journey from Obinofia Ndiuno to a career in the power sector reflects a life shaped by education, technical expertise and professional ambition.
Onyema began his education at Modern Primary School, Obinofia Ndiuno, before proceeding to Community Secondary School, Obinofia Ndiuno, where he obtained his West African School Certificate. He later gained admission to Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT), where he studied Electrical and Electronics Engineering, specialising in power.
His professional career began with the then National Electric Power Authority (NEPA), continued under the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), and later took him to the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC). Across these institutions, he built a reputation for hard work and technical competence.
According to accounts of his career, Onyema’s performance earned him recognition as the best revenue collector in Enugu State, reportedly achieving twice the performance of his predecessor. His subsequent posting to EEDC’s Service Engineering Department brought another distinction: he was recognised as the best service engineer in the South-East.
That achievement reportedly attracted the attention of EEDC’s Managing Director, Emeka Offor, who invited him to Abuja and appointed him head of the company’s board task force for the South-East. The role placed him in a position to draw on his technical knowledge, organisational ability and familiarity with the region’s electricity distribution challenges.
After three years in the position, Onyema left EEDC to establish his own company, DABTCH Works Limited, an electrical and power engineering firm. Its services include high-tension electrical installations, transformer installation and repairs, wiring for residential and commercial buildings, pole relocation, power-line accessories and other electrical services.
The company has undertaken projects in Enugu, Anambra and Ebonyi states, providing Onyema with experience in private enterprise and the practical challenges of power infrastructure. For his supporters, this combination of technical expertise and business experience forms part of the case for his entry into elective politics.
Yet Onyema’s political appeal is also being built around his reported involvement in community affairs. One example cited by his supporters concerns the Obinofia road project. Through his lawyer, Barr. Maduka Okoli, Onyema reportedly petitioned EEDC over the failure of CGC Construction Company to execute the road project, which had been attracted by Chief Ogbuefi Ozor Mgbachi.
According to the account, the intervention led to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) compelling the company to refund money already paid to it, after which the road was completed to an earth-road standard with drainage, making it more accessible to residents. The episode is presented by his supporters as evidence of his willingness to pursue community concerns beyond conventional political channels.
Such experiences, they argue, could inform his approach to representation: identifying local problems, engaging the relevant institutions and pursuing practical outcomes. However, the ultimate test of any aspirant will be the clarity of his agenda, the feasibility of his promises and his willingness to remain accountable to constituents.
Onyema is seeking election to the Enugu State House of Assembly to represent Ezeagu State Constituency under the platform of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP). His supporters believe his engineering background, private-sector experience and community involvement offer a foundation on which to build a legislative agenda focused on infrastructure, youth empowerment, economic opportunity and responsive representation.
The constituency’s choice, as the political process unfolds, will be about more than an individual’s résumé. It will be about which candidate can best articulate Ezeagu’s needs, scrutinise government policies, advocate for development and maintain an effective connection with the people.
For Onyema, the challenge is to turn his professional record and community profile into a clear, measurable programme for public service. His ambition is straightforward: to take his experience from the power sector and private enterprise into the legislative arena, with the promise of representing Ezeagu’s interests.
As the campaign develops, supporters are expected to present more details about his plans and priorities. For now, Engr. Chidi Lemion Onyema is making his case as an aspirant who believes that practical experience, community engagement and purposeful leadership should help shape the future of Ezeagu State Constituency.
