Thousands of supporters and members of the Nigeria Democratic Congress gathered in Asaba, Delta State, on Thursday as the party inaugurated its campaign secretariat and intensified its mobilisation ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The event brought together the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, Delta State governorship candidate Deacon Chris Iyovwaye, former Deputy President of the Senate Ovie Omo-Agege, other candidates and party leaders.
The gathering was marked by chants from supporters, campaign messages and displays of support for the Obi-Kwankwaso ticket. Reports said the event was delayed before the arrival of some party leaders, with organisers apologising to supporters who had waited for the programme to begin.
Obi, who addressed the gathering after his arrival, thanked residents and party supporters for the reception and said the newly inaugurated secretariat would serve as a centre for the party’s activities in Delta State.
He used the occasion to outline his campaign’s economic message, calling for greater national unity, improved security and a shift from a consumption-driven economy to one focused on production.
According to Obi, increasing production would help create employment opportunities and reduce poverty. He said Nigeria needed to move beyond dependence on consumption and develop an economy capable of creating jobs and expanding opportunities for citizens.
“We must unite, secure our dear nation, and move it from consumption to production, create jobs, and pull our people out of poverty,” Obi said in a statement after the event.
The former Anambra governor also focused on the Niger Delta, arguing that the region’s contribution to Nigeria’s economy through oil and gas should translate into visible development for its residents.
He specifically raised concerns about infrastructure in the region, including the condition of the East-West Road, and promised greater transparency in the management of public resources if his political platform wins the 2027 election.
“One thing I can assure the Niger Delta is that the days you do not see the impact of your wealth are gone,” Obi said during the Asaba engagement.
Healthcare also featured prominently in Obi’s address. He reiterated his position that Nigeria should improve its domestic healthcare system and reduce dependence on foreign medical treatment.
The NDC candidate said public hospitals should be strengthened to provide quality services to Nigerians and argued that political office holders should lead by example by using healthcare facilities within the country except where specialised treatment requires a referral abroad.
Iyovwaye, the NDC’s Delta governorship candidate, also addressed the gathering and highlighted concerns about roads, security, employment and other challenges facing residents.
He urged supporters to remain active in the party’s grassroots mobilisation and described the 2027 election as an opportunity for political change in the state and the country.
Omo-Agege, meanwhile, pointed to concerns over electricity supply, unemployment and healthcare while speaking at the event. He said the conditions affecting residents should be central to the political debate ahead of the election.
The former senator also expressed confidence in the NDC’s prospects in Delta State and said the party would work to protect its votes during the election.
The Asaba mobilisation forms part of the NDC’s broader preparations for the 2027 elections. The party has been working on its presidential campaign structure while also preparing to mobilise polling agents across the country.
Earlier in September, the NDC announced that Obi and his running mate, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, had been given considerable latitude to nominate key officials for the party’s official Presidential Campaign Council. The party said campaign funds would be managed through a dedicated account involving nominated campaign officials and the National Treasurer, with financial reporting requirements to be observed.
The campaign preparations have also occurred alongside disagreements over the role of support organisations. Obi recently said groups such as the Obi-Kwankwaso Movement, Obidient groups and Kwankwasiyya should function as support organisations for the NDC rather than operate as the party’s official campaign machinery.
Despite those organisational discussions, the Asaba event provided the NDC with an opportunity to publicly present its economic and governance agenda to supporters in Delta.
Obi ended his message by reiterating the slogan associated with his campaign: “A New Nigeria is Possible.”
The gathering marked another stage in the political mobilisation ahead of 2027, with the NDC seeking to translate the enthusiasm displayed at its Asaba secretariat launch into a structured grassroots campaign across Delta State and beyond.
