NDC Stakeholders Endorse Akpederin for Reps Seat, Unveils Agenda for OSU Constituency

Prominent Delta lawyer and politician, Kingsley Akpederin, has formally declared his ambition to contest for the House of Representatives seat for the Okpe/Sapele/Uvwie (OSU) Federal Constituency, saying the move followed pressure and endorsement from stakeholders of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).

Akpederin, who spoke with journalists in Abuja, said party leaders and supporters across the constituency urged him to step into the race ahead of the 2027 general elections in order to offer what he described as “a breath of fresh air” in representation.

According to him, consultations within the party initially centred on whether he should seek a seat in the Delta State House of Assembly or the House of Representatives, but support overwhelmingly tilted toward the latter.

“The NDC is attracting massive interest now and the stakeholders believe the party must present its best candidates for the 2027 elections. After extensive consultations and endorsement by stakeholders across Okpe, Sapele and Uvwie, I decided to declare for the House of Representatives,” he said.

Akpederin disclosed that he had already undergone the party’s screening process with the national leadership in Abuja and was fully prepared for both the primaries and the general election.

He promised to champion major developmental concerns affecting the constituency, including the revival and expansion of the Sapele Port, increased federal funding for the Federal University of Petroleum Resources and the Petroleum Training Institute, as well as renewed attention to the Petroleum Refinery in Ekpan.

The politician also decried the slow pace of reconstruction on the Sapele/Effurun Highway and the delayed Amukpe-Agbor Highway dualisation project, pledging to push the issues aggressively at the National Assembly if elected.

Akpederin lamented what he described as the neglect of Delta State in recent certification and compliance processes involving deep seaports across Nigeria, despite the state’s strategic maritime assets.

“A state with natural harbours like Sapele, Warri, Forcados and Koko should naturally be a maritime hub for Nigeria, but Delta has been left out. This is what happens when there are no strong advocacy voices at the national level,” he stated.

He argued that the OSU Federal Constituency occupies a strategic economic position as the gateway to the Niger Delta and should benefit more from Nigeria’s oil, gas and maritime economy.

On human rights issues, Akpederin announced plans to establish a Human Rights Protection Office aimed at defending residents of the constituency against abuses by law enforcement agencies and other authorities.

“When security personnel violate the rights of our people, such actions must be challenged. The office will focus on assisting the voiceless and those without the resources to seek justice,” he said.

The legal practitioner further maintained that his political ambition was rooted in service and grassroots engagement rather than personal gain.

He assured party members that the contest would remain peaceful, describing the race as an internal democratic process that should strengthen the NDC ahead of the general elections.

“I am not scared of anybody. Politics is not physical combat. Whoever emerges eventually will still need the support of others to strengthen the party and advance the public good,” he added.