AGBOR/Nigeria: Rt. Hon. Victor Ochei, the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) senatorial candidate for Delta North, has urged voters to assess candidates for the 2027 general election by their character, competence and capacity to deliver, rather than political patronage and campaign rhetoric.
Ochei made the call while addressing members of Opposition Gate, a sociopolitical group comprising academics, professionals and businesspeople in Agbor, where he presented his experience in public service and engineering as key considerations in his bid for the Senate.
He attended the meeting alongside the NDC candidate for Ika South State Constituency, Mrs Ogor Tony-Obuh; the party’s Delta North Senatorial Chairman, Hon. Aaron Udoka Ebenuwa; and the Director-General of his campaign council, Hon. Gift Okwuolise.
According to Ochei, elections should be treated as an opportunity for citizens to choose representatives based on their ability to provide effective leadership and deliver tangible results.
“Character, Competence and Capacity are the true measures,” he said, arguing that voters should demand evidence of performance rather than be swayed by political slogans or patronage.
The former Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly cited his legislative background and engineering experience as important qualifications for the senatorial position.
He also recalled his 2003 electoral contest, claiming that he defeated the then Majority Leader of the House while running on the platform of a relatively unknown political party.
Ochei said the experience reinforced his belief in independent-minded leadership, arguing that political officeholders should be judged by their record and ability to serve rather than their association with established political interests.
Turning to infrastructure, he urged residents to examine the condition of public projects when assessing the performance of successive administrations and political representatives.
Drawing on his engineering background, Ochei stressed the importance of construction quality and durability, saying newly constructed roads should be built to withstand years of use.
“As an engineer, the minimum a newly constructed road should last is 10 years,” he stated.
He expressed concern about the condition of roads in Agbor and questioned whether the area’s longstanding political influence had translated into commensurate development outcomes.
According to him, the performance of political leaders should be assessed through the quality of infrastructure delivered, institutions strengthened and sustainable development systems established.
Ochei also presented the NDC as a platform for political change, praising what he described as Peter Obi’s emphasis on prudent management of public resources and the development of locally driven solutions to Nigeria’s challenges.
He said responsible public spending and policies designed around domestic needs should form part of efforts to improve governance and expand economic opportunities.
The senatorial candidate further expressed support for the development agenda of the NDC’s Delta State governorship candidate, Deacon Chris Iyovwaye, particularly his proposed Reset Proposal.
Ochei cited Iyovwaye’s experience in engineering logistics and reported business engagements with Dangote Industries and other multinational organisations as relevant to his vision for industrial development, employment generation and wider economic opportunities in Delta State.
He expressed confidence that such experience could contribute to efforts to attract investment and promote economic growth across the state.
Concluding his address, Ochei urged members of Opposition Gate and other residents to support what he described as the possibility of a new Nigeria, insisting that leadership should be anchored on measurable ability and commitment to public service.
“We must believe in the possibility of a New Nigeria and be ready to do all it takes to make it real,” he said, reiterating that character, competence and capacity would define his senatorial aspiration.
