The National Democratic Congress has unveiled all its candidates contesting the 2027 general election in Abia State.
Those unveiled include the governorship candidate, Etugo Ogah, and senatorial candidates: Nkechi Nwogu for the Abia Central district; and Uko Nkole for the Abia North district.
Others announced were the House of Representatives candidates, with former Super Eagles midfielder, Karibe Ojigwe, emerging as the candidate for Bende Federal Constituency and the party’s flagbearers for the State House of Assembly.
Speaking during the event in Umuahia, the state capital on Wednesday, the NDC state chairman, Ako Atulomah, said the party is prepared to deliver quality leadership and put a smile on the faces of Abians.
He said, “Others have done theirs without putting many smiles on the faces of the people. NDC will change the narrative. In NDC, a new Nigeria is possible. The dividends of democracy must go round.
”NDC will change the narrative of picking people from abroad to govern the state while those who suffered and worked are left behind. The essence is to unveil the candidates of the party. The period of impersonation is over. It is time for the people to know the right candidates and those the masses will work with.”
He charged members of the party to protect their votes and resist moneybags, saying, “Collect their money and vote for the right candidates.
“This party has come to stay in Abia. It is a fast-growing party in Nigeria. We are here to showcase the party. God will use the party to liberate the state.”
Also speaking after his unveiling, the party’s governorship candidate expressed optimism that the party would clinch victory in 2027.
He stated that as the governorship candidate, together with other candidates, they would commence reconciliatory visits to aspirants who did not emerge, to ensure the party remains united.
Ogah appreciated the party members, the state chairman, members of the State Working Committee, and the senatorial candidates, among others, saying with their support, victory is assured.
He also commended members of the Kwankwasiyya movement, various pro-groups and structures, urging them to continue marketing the party wherever they found themselves.
Addressing journalists, Nwogu said as an experienced lawmaker, she is well aware of what Abia Central Senatorial District is lacking.
“If I emerge as a senator, I’ll ensure that the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, MOUAU, is converted to a conventional university where students can study law, medicine and other courses without going to other universities to pay huge sums for admission.
”The experience is there, and you cannot beat the experience. Experience is not experimental. Experiment means you can get it right, you can get it wrong.
”I’m going to bring to the people of Abia Central the things they have missed in the last 11 years since I left the Senate in 2015. I’m going to work with the people of Abia Central to identify what the youths, retirees and women are looking forward to. If you have a good quality representative, you will enjoy the dividends,” she said.
On his part, Nkole, the candidate for Abia North, expressed optimism that victory at the polls in 2027 is possible, saying the party is ready to clinch available seats.
The NDC candidate for Ikwuano/Umuahia Federal Constituency, Stanley Uche, said he would bring the experience he has garnered in public service to bear, stressing that under him, the constituency would flourish more than its current status.
