Banner Online News

By Our Correspondent

ILLAH, Delta State — In a powerful display of political realignment, the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) welcomed a wave of new defectors to its fold in Illah, Oshimili North Ward 3, on Tuesday, as the party’s senatorial candidate for Delta North issued a blistering warning against political manipulation and declared the dawn of a “New Direction” for the Anioma people.

Rt. Hon. (Engr.) Victor O. Ochei, Esq., the NDC’s 2027 candidate for Delta North Senatorial District, addressed an enthusiastic crowd alongside the party’s Oshimili North State Constituency candidate, Mr. Ashinze Charles Obiodogwu, whose message that “Joy is coming” sent waves of applause through the gathering.

While acknowledging he has yet to formally commence his campaign, Ochei promised a “wholesome and expressive campaign across Delta North”, one that would not shy away from confronting the region’s past, examining its present challenges, and charting a clear path toward a prosperous future.

“Our campaign will be about issues, ideas, accountability and the future we can build together,” Ochei declared to the cheering crowd.

The event drew significant solidarity from Dr. Uzomah Valentine Awunor, NDC candidate for Anioha North Constituency 1, underscoring the growing unity within the party across Delta North.

‘Your Votes Are Not Properties’

In a fiery address, Ochei urged the people of Illah to stand firm against what he described as “old political tricks” that have long treated the people’s mandate as personal property of political structures.

“The votes of our people belong to them, and those votes must translate into genuine representation, development opportunities and a better quality of life,” Ochei said, drawing loud cheers from the assembly.

He warned against intimidation and manipulation, calling on residents to resist every form of political coercion as the 2027 elections approach.

A Clear Choice for Nigeria’s Future

When Ochei asked the crowd their choice for the nation’s highest office, the response was thunderous and unanimous: “Mr. Peter Obi” and “Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso”, a clear endorsement of the opposition alignment that has captured the imagination of many Nigerians seeking change.

Ochei, a Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, emphasized that his senatorial ambition is not about titles but about service. “I am not in the senatorial race for the title, but to offer Delta North a representation that listens, works and delivers,” he said.

Momentum Building

Political observers note that the NDC’s growing presence in Delta North signals a shifting political landscape ahead of the 2027 general elections. From ward to ward and community to community, Ochei said the “New Direction Project” continues to gather momentum.

The defection of numerous new members to the NDC in Illah represents what party leaders describe as a groundswell of support for a new political era in the region, one built on accountability, genuine representation, and a break from the political machinery that has long dominated the state’s political landscape.

As the crowd dispersed, the chant of “Joy is coming” echoed through the streets of Illah, a promise that the NDC and its candidates intend to keep.