The African Democratic Congress (ADC) senatorial candidate for Delta South, Dr Austin Orette, has presented a broad policy agenda ahead of the 2027 general elections, highlighting electoral reform, security, healthcare, infrastructure, youth empowerment and accountability as major areas requiring legislative attention.
Austin Orette unveiled his priorities on Thursday during an engagement with party supporters and journalists in Ozoro, headquarters of Isoko North Local Government Area of Delta State.
The interaction also provided an opportunity for the candidate to raise concerns over the alleged omission of his name from the list of senatorial candidates published by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Orette questioned the circumstances surrounding the development, particularly because, according to him, his political party had submitted his candidacy to the electoral body.
He therefore called on INEC to provide a clear explanation, review its records and establish whether the omission resulted from an administrative error or another stage of the nomination and verification process.
“My concern is not simply that my name was omitted from the list published by INEC, but how such an omission occurred after my party submitted my candidacy.
“I am demanding that INEC explain clearly what happened, verify its records and, if the omission was an administrative error, correct it through the proper procedure,” Orette said.
The ADC candidate said the issue should be approached strictly within the framework of the law and established electoral procedures.
He explained that his request was not for special consideration but for transparency in the handling of candidates’ information.
Orette said INEC should clarify whether his nomination documents were properly received, whether the details supplied by the ADC were correctly captured and at what point the alleged omission occurred.
“I am not asking INEC for a favour. I am asking for the law and the established process to be applied correctly. If there was an error, it should be identified and corrected through the proper procedure. If there was no error, INEC should explain clearly why my name was omitted despite my party’s submission,” he said.
The ADC also called on the electoral commission to review the alleged omission and ensure that the name of its nominated candidate for Delta South is properly reflected in the official candidate list, subject to the applicable electoral procedures.
Orette proposes changes to electoral administration
Moving beyond his immediate concern, Orette said the incident highlighted the need for a more transparent and traceable system for managing candidate information.
He proposed an auditable process covering the entire journey of a candidate’s nomination, beginning with the submission of names by political parties and continuing through verification, approval and publication by INEC.
Among his suggestions were compulsory acknowledgement of candidate submissions, a rapid process for correcting legitimate omissions and accountability for officials found to have negligently or unlawfully mishandled candidate information.
He also advocated stronger legislative oversight of election preparation, procurement and logistics, as well as closer monitoring of the implementation of electoral reforms.
According to him, transparency should equally extend to political party primaries.
He proposed proper documentation of nomination fees, accredited delegates, voting procedures, results and mechanisms for resolving disputes arising from internal party elections.
Security and economic opportunities
Security was another central component of Orette’s proposed agenda.
The candidate said legislative measures should address kidnapping, organised criminal networks, illegal arms trafficking and the financing of criminal enterprises.
He argued, however, that tackling insecurity requires more than security operations, noting that unemployment, institutional weaknesses, poor intelligence coordination and inadequate economic opportunities also contribute to the country’s security challenges.
For Delta South specifically, Orette identified environmental remediation, improved roads and waterways, healthcare development, technical training, youth employment and support for small and medium-sized enterprises as areas requiring greater attention.
He also called for stronger oversight of government agencies responsible for development programmes in the Niger Delta.
Healthcare as a legislative priority
Orette, who is a medical doctor, said healthcare should occupy a prominent position in government planning and budgetary decisions.
He proposed strengthening primary healthcare centres, expanding access to medical services in rural communities, improving support for healthcare workers and developing emergency medical services.
He maintained that residents of Delta South should have access to quality healthcare without being forced to travel long distances for basic specialist treatment.
“As a medical doctor, I understand that healthcare is not merely a budgetary issue. It is a question of whether people live or die. Delta South should not require citizens to travel hundreds of kilometres for basic specialist care,” he said.
Youth empowerment and skills development
On youth development, Orette called for policies capable of connecting young people with practical economic opportunities.
He identified vocational training, technology, entrepreneurship, agriculture and maritime-related activities as sectors that could provide opportunities for young people across Delta South.
He said investment in skills development should be accompanied by access to opportunities that enable young people to turn their training into sustainable livelihoods.
Accountability and equality before the law
The ADC candidate also placed emphasis on accountability in public institutions, arguing that political influence or social status should not prevent individuals from being subjected to lawful investigation where credible allegations arise.
“For Nigeria to develop, the wealthy and politically influential must be subject to the same legal standards as everyone else. Privilege must carry responsibility. Office must carry consequences. Influence must never become immunity,” Orette said.
He cited the 2023 conviction in the United Kingdom of former Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, his wife, Beatrice Ekweremadu, and medical doctor Obinna Obeta in connection with a proposed kidney donation.
Orette said the case illustrated his argument that public office should not place individuals outside the reach of established legal processes.
He further advocated investigation and prosecution where credible evidence exists linking individuals to kidnapping, terrorism, organised crime or the financing of criminal activities.
Legislative Role
According to Orette, the Senate has several constitutional and legislative tools that can be deployed to address national and constituency-level challenges.
He listed legislation, amendments to existing laws, appropriation and oversight among the mechanisms available to senators.
“The Senate cannot solve every problem in Nigeria by itself. But a senator can introduce bills, sponsor amendments, influence appropriations, conduct oversight, demand explanations from agencies and bring the concerns of constituents directly into national policy,” he said.
As the 2027 elections approach, Orette urged voters in Delta South to scrutinise the programmes and records of candidates seeking their support.
He said the electorate should assess what each candidate intends to achieve and how proposed policies would translate into practical benefits for communities across the senatorial district.