By Onome Ogbogoh & Princess Ihechiluru
OTU-JEREMI – Ahead of the Nigerian general elections coming in 2027, the main opposition party in Delta State, the People Democratic Party (PDP), at the weekend organized its first-ever PDP Youths Leadership and inaugurated the PDP Legislators Forum (PDP-LF).
Speaking to Rainbow Newspaper, a House of Representatives aspirant for Ughelli North, South, and Udu federal constituency in the forthcoming general elections, Hon. Dr. Olotu Otemu Akpodiete said the Youth Leadership Summit is aimed at preparing and training the youths ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“This is the first time all the youth leaders in Ughelli North, South, and Udu federal constituency are coming together.
“It is a time for us to share information, time for us to share experience, and to discuss issues and challenges within us in preparation for the 2027 election.
“We also used the opportunity to inaugurate the Legislators Forum, comprising former members of the council and House of Assembly members. It’s going to be an enlarged forum for former councilors, former House of Assembly, House of Representatives, and Senators”.
According to the House of Reps hopeful, the leadership summit for youth leaders of Ughelli North, South, and Udu federal constituencies is an avenue to reward the youth leaders for their steadfastness and commitment in the face of many challenges.
“The summit is to empower our youth leaders, to encourage them for all they have been doing for the party, because since the defection that rocked the party, they have been working hard to keep their youths in their ward. So we are here to appreciate them, and secondly to prepare them and train them ahead of the 2027 elections”.
Akpodiete charged Nigerian youths to wake up and take their destiny into their hands. The time has come for them to create more awareness among the people that, despite what happened in April, the PDP is still alive and on the ground and is fully prepared for the 2027 general elections.
He noted that since Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and his appointees left PDP, the youths are happy because the best time for them to conduct elections, implement, and initiate policies that will favour them on the platform of PDP has come.
Also speaking, Engr Onovu Gakbo and Oghenerukevwe Benedict commended the House of Representatives hopeful, Dr. Olotu Otemu Akpodiete, for putting together a leadership summit for the youth leaders of the three local government areas that make up Ughelli North, Ughelli South, and Udu federal constituency.
“What we are seeing today is something that has never been done in PDP before. A leadership summit for youth leaders across the three local governments. It has not been done. I have been in PDP for almost two decades, and I have not seen anything like this. So this will foster PDP in bringing up the right leaders who will make the right decisions in society.
“We are growing leaders, we believe some of these ward leaders, ward youth leaders will become governors tomorrow, house of assembly, house of representatives members, and senators tomorrow”.
Meanwhile, Hon. Patrick Bodosika, a former councillor in Udu local government area, enjoined all politicians to emulate Dr. Olotu Akpodiete, saying such a program will encourage the youths to come together and forge a common cause.
