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‘By Our Reporter

(Additional reports by PSG Newsonline)

ASABA — In a roaring show of political defiance and grassroots mobilization, the Oshimili South chapter of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) on Friday unanimously declared former Anambra Governor Peter Obi as its consensus presidential candidate for the 2027 general election, setting the stage for what party leaders call a “people-driven insurgency” against Nigeria’s ruling establishment.

Thousands of party faithful and supporters flooded the Anglican Girls Grammar School in Asaba for the party’s primaries covering presidential, senatorial, House of Representatives, and House of Assembly seats across the Delta North Senatorial District. Through a thunderous voice vote, delegates swept aside any pretense of contest, locking in Obi as the man to fly the NDC’s flag in the next presidential poll.

“Nigerians are no longer willing to wait,” said Rt. Hon. Engr. Victor Ochei, former Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly and Delta North senatorial aspirant. Speaking to journalists amid the surging crowd, Ochei attributed the massive turnout to two things: effective mobilization by party aspirants and a nationwide, burning hunger for change.

“The NDC is ready to compete. People want a government that delivers good governance, improves living conditions, and restores hope,” Ochei said, adding that the desire for people-oriented leadership will drive the party’s campaign all the way to 2027.

But it was his warning on electoral integrity that drew the sharpest response. Rejecting fears of vote-rigging, Ochei declared that voters have transformed.

“In the past, perhaps people’s votes did not count. But today, people will rather have you kill them than not count their votes. Their votes must count,” he said.

Ochei vowed that after voting, the party would follow the process “through to the INEC office” to ensure transparency in collation and declaration of results — a direct challenge to Nigeria’s troubled electoral history.

As of press time on Friday, results from 98 wards across the nine local government areas of Delta North were still being collated for transmission to the NDC’s national headquarters for final announcement. But for the thousands gathered in Asaba, the headline was already written: Peter Obi, backed by a defiant Delta chapter, is running — and they insist this time, the people’s voice will not be stolen.