*By Ikechukwu Chukwudi-Abiandu (Team Ochei)*
The NDC senatorial candidate for Delta North and former Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. (Engr.) Victor Onyekachi Ochei, has held a consultation with party members and stakeholders from Utchi Community in Ndokwa East Local Government Area, as part of engagements ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Welcoming the delegation, the Director-General of the Victor Ochei Campaign Council, Hon. Gift Okwuolise, PhD, thanked them for responding to the invitation and emphasised the importance of engaging communities and understanding their expectations ahead of the elections.
He described Ochei as an experienced politician with a proven legislative background, saying: “Rt. Hon. Victor Ochei is not new or a stranger to politics, governance and representation. He was a member of the House of Assembly and became Speaker of the House. When we go to the House of Assembly, the impact he made is still very visible there.”
Okwuolise also assured the delegation of Ochei’s commitment to effective representation and purposeful engagement with the people.
In their separate remarks, members of the Utchi delegation highlighted the community’s pressing development challenges, particularly the absence of connecting roads and reliable electricity. They lamented the difficulty of accessing other parts of Delta State and expressed a feeling of exclusion from government attention. They also criticised what they described as the failure of the previous state administration to address the community’s development needs, insisting that they had little reason to support the APC.
Responding, Ochei thanked the delegation for their patience and resilience, acknowledging the hardship faced by residents. He described the lack of connecting roads, electricity and visible government presence as unacceptable.
“I want to sincerely appreciate the people of Utchi for their patience and long-suffering over the years, because I have an idea of the hardships you are going through. It is unacceptable that Utchi has no connecting roads, no light and a practical absence of government presence,” he said.
Ochei urged residents to participate actively in the 2027 elections, calling on community members to mobilise voters across households and ensure that their votes were protected.
“The coming election requires that we all come out to vote. Our fathers, mothers and youths need to go house to house, door to door, to ensure that the development we desire is delivered,” he stated.
He further urged the people not to be intimidated, stressing the importance of remaining at their polling units after voting to observe the process and protect their ballots.
“There is no need to be afraid, because there will be no opportunity to rig. After voting, we must wait at our various polling units to defend our votes, because the development that Utchi deserves is too important,” he said.
Addressing concerns about the geographical and water-related challenges that could make road construction difficult, Ochei assured the community that connecting roads were achievable with the right engineering approach and commitment.
“There are some persons that believe a road can’t get into Utchi because of the water situation of the area. I want to assure you that roads are possible in Utchi and we will drive into the community. The cost is not the problem, because if the coastal road can be constructed by the Federal Government, then roads can get to Utchi,” he declared.
The NDC candidate also recalled his earlier intervention in the community, where he sponsored the provision and installation of streetlights. He said the gesture demonstrated his willingness to support the community even outside public office, adding that he would seek to raise the level of intervention if elected senator.
Among those present at the consultation were Chief Austin Obi, a former Director of the Department of State Services (DSS); Mr Edwin Akaba, Vice President-General of Utchi Community; Chief Kenneth Ozegbe, Secretary of the Justices of the Peace; Chief Sunday Nwanosike; and other community and party stakeholders.
The consultation provided an opportunity for the community to present its concerns directly to the NDC candidate, with roads, electricity and improved access to government services emerging as key priorities.
