The Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) stakeholders’ familiarisation tour of Delta North has continued to attract large gatherings, with party leaders, candidates, ward executives, youths, women and other stakeholders turning out for engagements in Aniocha North and Oshimili areas of the senatorial district.
The latest tour took the party’s governorship candidate, Deacon Chris Iyovwaye, and its Delta North senatorial candidate, Rt. Hon. Victor Ochei, to Issele-Uku, the headquarters of Aniocha North Local Government Area, where they met with party leaders and supporters as part of efforts to strengthen the party’s grassroots structures ahead of the 2027 elections.
The gathering also featured NDC candidates for the Aniocha North State Constituencies, ward executives and other party stakeholders.
The organisers described the turnout and reception as an indication of growing interest in the party’s campaign across the area.
Addressing the gathering, the party leaders emphasised unity, grassroots mobilisation and disciplined organisation, while outlining what they described as the NDC’s agenda for inclusive development, youth empowerment, people-centred representation and accountable governance.
Ochei, who hails from Aniocha North and previously served as Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, also presented the party’s candidates for the two Aniocha North State Constituencies — Dr. Uzoma Valentine Awunor for Constituency I and Dr. Vincent Nwachologu for Constituency II.
The former Speaker told stakeholders that the candidates represented the choice of the local party structure, while criticising what he described as the imposition of candidates from outside the constituency.
The engagement in Issele-Uku formed part of a wider familiarisation exercise across the nine local government areas of Delta North.
According to party stakeholders, what was initially planned as a series of indoor consultations has increasingly attracted larger gatherings, particularly in Aniocha North, Aniocha South, Oshimili North and Oshimili South.
Elumelu Felix, a Delta North NDC stakeholder, described the engagements in the four local government areas as more than routine consultations, saying the reception demonstrated enthusiasm among party members and supporters for the party’s political agenda.
He said the stakeholders’ meetings were intended to strengthen the party’s structures at the grassroots while providing an opportunity for candidates to interact directly with ward leaders, community stakeholders and supporters.
The NDC’s campaign in Delta has been built around the party’s stated “Reset Delta” agenda, with Iyovwaye campaigning for the governorship and Ochei seeking election to the Senate for Delta North.
For Ochei, the Aniocha North engagement also carried a personal significance, given his roots in the area and his previous political representation of the constituency.
His supporters referenced his legislative and public-service background as part of the experience he is taking into the Delta North senatorial contest.
The party’s message during the tour centred on what its leaders described as a new political direction for Delta North, with emphasis on development, youth opportunities, effective representation and stronger grassroots participation.
The NDC stakeholders said the consultations would continue across Delta North as the party builds its structures and engages communities ahead of the 2027 general elections
