Abraka 2027: The race for a constituency crying for development

By Alhaji Matthew Ogune

As Awaritoma, Erhimedafe and Rex Ogboru enter the race, the people of Abraka face a defining choice

As the political temperature begins to rise ahead of the 2027 Delta State House of Assembly election, Abraka State Constituency is gradually becoming one of the constituencies to watch in Delta State.

The contest is assuming greater significance not merely because of the personalities involved, but because of the condition of the constituency and the expectations of its people.

Three candidates have emerged as prominent contenders in the political conversation: Hon. Erhire Awaritoma of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Hon. Felix E. Erhimedafe, popularly known as Ibani, of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and Hon. Rex E. Ogboru of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).

Each candidate comes into the race with a different political identity, experience and proposition.

But beyond the political parties and campaign machinery, there is a bigger question confronting the people of Abraka:

Who can provide the kind of representation capable of closing the governance gap that has persisted in the constituency for years?

That question deserves serious consideration.

A constituency at a crossroads

Abraka is not an ordinary community.

Made up principally of the Oruarivie and Umiaghwa kingdoms, the town has grown from a traditional community into a major educational, commercial and residential centre.

The presence of Delta State University has further increased its population and economic importance, attracting students, academics, businesses, landlords, artisans and other residents from different parts of Nigeria.

Yet, the development of Abraka has not always kept pace with its growth.

Poor internal roads remain a major concern in several communities. Drainage and environmental challenges continue to affect residents. Access to quality healthcare remains an issue, while insecurity has generated anxiety among residents and businesses.

More recently, the growing concern over drug abuse, particularly among young people, has added another troubling dimension to the social challenges confronting the town.

The irony is difficult to ignore.

A community hosting a major university and contributing significantly to the economic life of the area should ordinarily be experiencing rapid infrastructure and human-capital development.

Instead, many residents continue to complain about what they regard as years of inadequate government attention.

This is where the 2027 election becomes important.

It presents an opportunity for the people to ask whether the next representative will merely occupy a seat in the State House of Assembly or actually use the office to aggressively pursue the interests of the constituency.

Awaritoma and the promise of purposeful leadership

Hon. Erhire Awaritoma, flying the flag of the African Democratic Congress, has presented himself as a candidate whose political proposition is built around service, courage, vision and effective representation.

His message is particularly centred on the need for leadership that listens to the people and defends their interests.

He has also highlighted youth empowerment, education, infrastructure, development and improved opportunities.

For Abraka, the youth question cannot be ignored.

The constituency has a large youthful

population, including students, graduates, artisans, entrepreneurs and unemployed young people.

The challenge is therefore not simply how to mobilise youths during elections but how to create an environment where they can acquire skills, establish businesses and participate meaningfully in the economy. Awaritoma’s political proposition speaks to this need.

But the real test, as with every political promise, will be implementation.

If elected, the electorate will expect him to demonstrate that his vision goes beyond campaign rhetoric by establishing measurable priorities and maintaining regular engagement with constituents.

His greatest task will be to convince voters that his promise of purposeful leadership can be translated into tangible results.

Ibani and the advantage of political experience

Hon. Felix E. Erhimedafe, popularly known as Ibani, approaches the election with a different advantage: political and grassroots experience.

Erhimedafe previously served as Councillor representing Ward 1, Abraka, between 2003 and 2006 and subsequently served as Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ethiope East.

His supporters point to these positions as evidence of his familiarity with grassroots politics, community mobilisation and political organisation.

There is certainly value in experience.

Legislative representation requires more than public speaking. It requires an understanding of government processes, political negotiation, legislation, budgeting, oversight and the ability to engage institutions responsible for delivering development.

For Ibani, therefore, his political history provides an important platform from which to make his case.

But the electorate will also want to know how that experience will address the present challenges of Abraka.

The Abraka of today is considerably different from the Abraka of 2003.

Population pressure has increased. The university community has expanded. Youth unemployment has become more complex.

Drug abuse and insecurity have assumed greater prominence, while infrastructure has struggled to keep pace with urban growth.

Ibani will therefore need to demonstrate how his experience can be adapted to the demands of a new generation.

Ogboru and the politics of manifesto

Hon. Rex E. Ogboru, candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, has entered the race with a detailed manifesto titled “Quality Service to the People.”

Among the three political propositions currently before the people, Ogboru’s manifesto stands out for the breadth of issues it addresses.

His agenda covers quality representation and accountability, youth empowerment, education and human-capital development, infrastructure and community development, as well as security.

He has also addressed healthcare, women empowerment and agriculture.

One of the strongest elements of the Ogboru proposition is his emphasis on accountability.

He argues that political office should be regarded as a contract with the people and not as a personal entitlement.

That argument strikes at one of the major weaknesses of Nigerian politics: the tendency for politicians to become increasingly inaccessible once elections are over.

Ogboru has proposed regular engagement with constituents, transparency concerning constituency projects and stronger oversight of government interventions.

He has also pledged to represent all residents regardless of political affiliation, ethnic background, religion or social status.

The challenge for him is clear.

A comprehensive manifesto is only as valuable as its implementation.

The people of Abraka will ultimately want to see whether the promises contained in the document can be converted into legislative motions, government interventions, constituency projects, policy advocacy and measurable development.

What Abraka should demand from the candidates

The 2027 election should provide an opportunity to raise the standard of political debate in Abraka.

The candidates should not be judged primarily by the number of posters they print, rallies they organise or political supporters they parade. They should be required to answer practical questions.

*What will you do about Abraka’s internal roads?

*How will you tackle the growing problem of drug abuse?

*What will you do to improve healthcare?

*How will you attract infrastructure projects to the constituency?

*What is your plan for unemployed youths?

*How will you support students and education?

*What will you do about insecurity?

*How will you support farmers and small businesses?

*How will you make the representative’s office accessible to ordinary constituents?

And perhaps the most important question:

*How will you account to the people after receiving their votes?

These questions should form the basis of the political conversation in the months ahead.

The road question

For many residents, the condition of internal roads remains one of the most visible symbols of the development deficit in Abraka. A representative cannot personally construct every road.

However, a competent legislator can identify critical infrastructure needs, raise them through appropriate legislative channels, lobby relevant authorities, monitor approved projects and keep the public informed about government commitments. This distinction is important.

The people should not expect a State Assembly member to perform the functions of an executive government. But they have every right to expect their representative to speak, lobby, legislate, monitor and demand action. That should be the standard.

Drug abuse: Abraka’s emerging social emergency

Perhaps no issue requires more urgent attention than the menace of drug abuse.

The problem should not be reduced to law enforcement.

A serious response must combine prevention, education, rehabilitation, counselling, employment opportunities and community engagement.

The next representative should work with relevant government agencies, schools, traditional institutions, religious bodies, civil society organisations, parents, youth groups and security agencies to develop a comprehensive response.

If young people have no meaningful opportunities, drug abuse will remain difficult to combat.

Therefore, the fight against drug abuse must also become a fight for skills, employment, education and hope.

The university advantage

Delta State University gives Abraka a unique opportunity. Rather than allowing the university and its host communities to operate largely as separate entities, the next representative should explore ways of strengthening cooperation between the institution, government and the communities.

There should be discussions around skills development, entrepreneurship, research, community healthcare, environmental management, youth development and local economic opportunities. Abraka should be able to derive broader development benefits from hosting a major university.

Youth empowerment must change

For years, Nigerian politicians have used the phrase “youth empowerment” repeatedly.

Too often, however, empowerment has meant the distribution of motorcycles, sewing machines, grinding machines, small cash grants or other items without a sustainable economic framework.

Abraka deserves better.

The next representative should pursue programmes that connect young people with vocational training, digital skills, entrepreneurship, agriculture, agro-processing, creative industries and existing government intervention programmes. The objective should not merely be to distribute items. It should be to create economic independence.

A healthcare agenda for Abraka

Healthcare should also occupy a prominent place in the campaign debate.

The next representative should have a clear plan for advocating improvements in primary healthcare facilities, maternal and child healthcare, preventive medicine and access to basic medical services.

Again, the constitutional limitations of the office must be recognised. A State Assembly member is not the commissioner for health.

But the representative has legislative, oversight and advocacy responsibilities that can be used to push government towards addressing identified healthcare deficiencies.

The need for an Abraka development scorecard

Whoever wins the election should be judged annually. Abraka’s people should demand a simple public scorecard containing:

*Bills and motions sponsored.

*Issues affecting Abraka raised on the floor of the House.

Government projects attracted to the constituency.

*Status of constituency interventions.

Meetings held with government agencies.

*Progress on major constituency demands.

*Youth and educational initiatives supported.

*Security and social challenges brought to government attention.

Such a scorecard would make representation measurable. It would also make it more difficult for politicians to return four years later with fresh promises while avoiding questions about their previous tenure.

The candidates should debate

One thing should be encouraged before the election: a public debate among the leading candidates.

Awaritoma, Ibani and Ogboru should be invited to sit before the people of Abraka and answer questions.

Traditional rulers should be represented.

Community leaders should participate.

Youth organisations, women groups, students, professionals, traders, civil society organisations and the media should be involved.

The candidates should be given equal time and asked identical questions.

*Let the electorate hear their positions directly.

*Let them explain what they can and cannot do as legislators.

*Let them present their priorities.

*Let them defend their records.

*Let them tell Abraka why they deserve the mandate.

That would be a far more meaningful political exercise than the endless exchange of accusations that often characterises Nigerian campaigns.

Beyond party politics

The people of Abraka should also resist the temptation to make the election exclusively about party identity.

*Party platforms matter.

*Political ideology matters.

*Experience matters.

But the immediate concern of the ordinary resident is often much simpler:

*Can I move around my community without destroying my vehicle?

*Can my child attend school in a decent environment?

*Can I access healthcare when I need it?

*Can my young son or daughter find a meaningful opportunity?

*Can I sleep peacefully?

*Can my business survive?

*Can my community receive the attention it deserves from government?

These are the issues that should define the election.

The choice before Abraka

Awaritoma, Ibani and Ogboru each bring something different to the table.

Awaritoma’s proposition is centred on purposeful leadership, courage and a people-oriented approach.

Ibani brings political experience, grassroots familiarity and a history of involvement in community and party organisation.

Ogboru has presented an expansive manifesto that places quality representation, accountability, youth development and infrastructure at the centre of his campaign.

None of these qualities should automatically translate into electoral victory.

The candidates must earn the confidence of the people. And the people must examine the candidates carefully.

The 2027 election should not be a contest between slogans. It should be a contest between ideas, capacity, character, experience and vision.

Abraka’s moment of decision

Abraka has endured what many residents describe as years of inadequate attention to critical development needs. The town cannot afford another political cycle in which campaign promises disappear after election day.

The 2027 election therefore offers an opportunity to reset the relationship between the people and their representative. Whoever wins must understand that the office belongs to the people.

*The representative must be accessible.

*The representative must listen.

*The representative must speak.

*The representative must legislate.

*The representative must lobby.

*The representative must monitor.

*And, above all, the representative must account.

The election may produce only one winner. But the winner will inherit the same Abraka, the same roads, the same healthcare concerns, the same security challenges, the same youth unemployment and the same growing concern about drug abuse. That is why this election is bigger than Awaritoma, Ibani or Ogboru.

It is about the future of Abraka.

Abraka people now have an opportunity to demand more. They should use it wisely.

Alhaji Matthew Ogune, Publisher MO Media Headlines writes from Abuja – 07035525757