Candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) for the Etsako Federal Constituency seat in the House of Representatives, Muhammed Bawa Qaleef, has called for greater collaboration between political actors and media practitioners towards ensuring an informed electorate ahead of the 2027 general elections. Bawa made the call when he hosted members of the Edo North Online Media Professionals (ENOMP), where he discussed his political aspirations and the role of the media in strengthening democratic participation across Edo North. The NDC candidate expressed concern over what he described as the lack of significant improvement in the living conditions of people across Etsako Federal Constituency since the 2023 elections. According to him, the people deserve effective representation that responds to their needs and translates into tangible improvements in their communities. He urged media practitioners to use their platforms to provide voters with relevant information about the candidates, issues and choices before them, stressing that decisions made during elections have consequences for the constituency and future generations. Bawa also spoke on the importance of empowering citizens, arguing that an informed and economically empowered population would be better positioned to participate meaningfully in democratic processes and hold elected representatives accountable. He said his decision to seek the House of Representatives seat was informed, among other considerations, by his previous interventions as a private individual. According to him, his efforts have contributed to the education and economic advancement of several individuals and families, while interventions have also been made in some communities where he and others considered such support necessary. He, however, acknowledged that the capacity of private individuals to address the needs of a constituency is limited, saying his aspiration to represent Etsako Federal Constituency is aimed at creating a broader platform through which community needs can be pursued through government. Bawa said his campaign would be anchored on what he described as "true representation," with emphasis on ensuring that the needs of constituents translate from promises and documents into practical outcomes. He further appealed to the media to maintain professionalism, provide voters with relevant information and facilitate public discourse on issues affecting the constituency ahead of the 2027 elections. He said an informed electorate would be better equipped to assess candidates and make decisions based on issues, programmes and capacity. The meeting formed part of the engagements between the NDC candidate and media stakeholders as political activities gradually intensify ahead of the 2027 general elections.