Reported by Ariajegbe Sylvia Esezobor
Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, on Thursday inaugurated the party’s Delta State campaign secretariat in Asaba and rallied support ahead of the 2027 general elections, drawing thousands of supporters and party members in a show of strength that the party hopes will translate into electoral victory in the state.
The event, attended by former Deputy Senate President Ovie Omo-Agege and the NDC’s Delta governorship candidate, Deacon Chris Iyovwaye, marked the formal start of the party’s grassroots mobilisation in Delta State. Obi said an NDC administration would prioritise transparency, healthcare, infrastructure and the development of the Niger Delta, criticising the state of infrastructure in the region and citing the East-West Road as an example. “One thing I can assure the Niger Delta is that the days when you do not see the impact of your wealth are gone,” Obi said. He noted that the region had contributed significantly to national wealth without receiving commensurate development, and pledged that citizens would know how public resources were spent under his watch. On healthcare, he promised to improve medical facilities so that fewer Nigerians would need to travel abroad for treatment. “We want you to visit the hospitals here so we can fix it. We will make it work,” he said.
In a post on his X platform on Saturday, Obi called for unity, improved security and a shift from consumption to production as part of efforts to create jobs and reduce poverty. “We must unite, secure our dear nation, and move it from consumption to production, create jobs, and pull our people out of poverty,” he said. He thanked Iyovwaye, other party leaders and members in Delta State for their commitment to the party’s campaign, and expressed appreciation to residents for their reception and hospitality. “A New Nigeria is Possible, and Nigeria will be OK,” he said.
Omo-Agege assured Obi of strong support in Delta, saying living conditions had worsened since the 2023 election when the former Anambra governor performed well in the state. He listed poor electricity supply, unemployment and inadequate healthcare as key challenges. “Today, the things, the circumstances that threw up that vote have actually gotten worse. Our people no longer have power. Our people no longer have jobs. Our people no longer have hospitals to meet their medical needs,” Omo-Agege said. “For that reason, we have resolved, Your Excellency, that not only are we going to stand to vote for you, but we are also going to stand to protect your vote.” He expressed confidence that the NDC would win all three senatorial seats in Delta and a majority of the House of Representatives seats, and reaffirmed the party’s resolve to make Iyovwaye the next governor.
Iyovwaye said Deltans were tired of poor roads, insecurity and joblessness, urging supporters to treat the 2027 election as a turning point. “There is no road, there is no security, there are no jobs, and everything is out of place, yet they said they want to continue in power. Will you allow them?” he asked. “We cannot leave this country the way it is. 2027 is our year, and that is our focus.”
The Asaba event followed a violent incident in Warri on September 18, when suspected political thugs disrupted a mobilisation rally involving supporters of Obi and his running mate, Rabiu Kwankwaso. A photographer associated with Obi alleged that politically sponsored thugs opened fire on members of the campaign group, including the Delta State governorship candidate. A video circulated online showed a chaotic scene. The NDC said its supporters repelled the attack, and the party’s spokesman, Theo Abu Agada, addressed the incident in a post on X. The Delta State chapter of the Obidient/OK Movement has since rolled out its campaign activities for the 2027 elections, with a state-wide mega rally scheduled for November 7, alongside a free medical outreach.
The political context of the Asaba event is significant. Delta State, an oil-rich state in the South-South, has been a competitive battleground in recent elections. In 2023, Obi won the state with 364,471 votes, defeating the Peoples Democratic Party’s Atiku Abubakar and the All Progressives Congress’s Bola Tinubu. His performance in Delta was part of a broader wave of support that made him a national phenomenon. The NDC is seeking to build on that foundation in 2027, with Obi and Kwankwaso on the ticket and the Obidient and Kwankwasiyya movements providing grassroots mobilisation. The party faces competition from the APC, whose candidate, President Tinubu, is seeking a second term, and the ADC, which has former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi on its ticket.
The 2027 general elections are scheduled for January 16, with the governorship and state assembly elections following on February 6. Delta State will elect a new governor, as Governor Sheriff Oborevwori completes his first term and is eligible to seek re-election. The NDC’s Iyovwaye is seeking to unseat him. The party’s ability to translate the enthusiasm displayed in Asaba into votes will depend on its organisational capacity, the strength of its grassroots structures, and its ability to maintain unity amid the internal disputes that have plagued it in recent weeks. The OK Movement’s insistence on its independence from the NDC has created friction, and the party’s national leadership has moved to register support groups, a process that the movement has resisted.
For Obi, the Delta rally was an opportunity to present his message of transparency, security and production to a key constituency. For the NDC, it was a demonstration of its growing presence in the South-South. For the people of Delta State, the coming months will determine whether the promises made in Asaba translate into tangible improvements in their lives, or whether the rally remains a moment of political theatre in a state that has heard similar promises before. As Obi put it, a new Nigeria is possible, and Nigeria will be OK. The task now is to convince voters that his party is the vehicle to deliver it.
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