A frontline politician and industrialist, Senator Nwite was a very vocal political activist, who at the height of the regime of the late General Sani Abacha was one of the arrowheads of the pro-democracy group, National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), which insisted on the validation of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, believed to have been won by the late Chief M.K.O Abiola.

For his audacity, Nwite was hauled into detention with some of his colleague- senators such as former governor of Lagos state, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Ameh Ebute and late Mark Nwulu, for unfounded allegations of being involved in the spate of bombings that rocked various parts of the country then.

Twice, he contested the governorship election in Ebonyi. He was Chairman, Senate Committee on National Security and Intelligence, during his period as a Senator. In 2008, he was appointed the Nigerian High Commissioner to Bostwana by late President Umaru Yar'adua. He was however, recalled to Nigeria in 2009 and was made the Senior Special Assistant to the President (Political Matters), a position he retained under the current government of President Goodluck Jonathan until he passed on.

As a true believer in the principles of democracy, late Senator Nwite had at different fora canvassed for internal democracy of the parties, supremacy of the rule of law and violence-free politics.

His Death

Senator Polycarp Nwite, Senior Special Assistant on political matters to President Goodluck Jonathan death was made public in a release on September 23 in Abuja.

According to the release signed by his Media Adviser, Mr. Edward Dibiana, Senator Nwite's first son, Mr. Michael Nwite disclosed that his late father passed on at the National Hospital, Abuja where he was receiving treatment in the early hours of yesterday due to the complications that arose after a medical procedure at Columbia Asia Hospital, Bangalore, India in April.

The late Senator Nwite, who resumed work two months ago after recuperating in his village, Edda, in Ebonyi state, travelled back to his village three weeks ago for the new yam festival and was said to have slumped hours after his arrival and was subsequently rushed back to Abuja and was admitted at the private wing of the National Hospital before his demise.

The primary reason for the initial surgery in India was to preserve his sight which was failing.

He is survived by six children.