A Delta South senatorial aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Austin Orette, has defected to the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), citing undemocratic practices within the ruling party.
Orette, a Texas-based family medicine physician and founding member of the APC, announced his defection while speaking with journalists in Lagos on Tuesday, lamenting what he described as the marginalisation of founding members in Delta State.
He accused the APC of attempting to impose candidates without conducting primary elections, insisting that such actions undermine democratic principles.
“The All Progressives Congress wants the incumbent to retain the position without primaries. In this way, I can say I did not leave the party; it was the APC that left me,” he said.
The senatorial hopeful further alleged that recent defections into the APC had created an environment that sidelined original members of the party in the state.
Despite his grievances, Orette expressed goodwill towards President Bola Tinubu, stating, “I love President Bola Tinubu and wish him well.”
Describing the 2027 general elections as a “battle of ideas,” he urged Nigerians to elect competent and intellectually sound representatives into the National Assembly.
“The Senate is the engine room of democracy and a place for the exchange of ideas. Unfortunately, people who are not intellectually prepared are often handed tickets in National Assembly elections,” he said.
Orette also highlighted pressing socio-economic challenges in Delta South, recalling a tragic incident in his hometown where a woman reportedly died due to a shortage of medical personnel.
He pledged to transform leadership in the region by attracting foreign investment, promoting entrepreneurship, and equipping youths and artisans with modern skills.
“I will create jobs by training young people to become entrepreneurs. I will retrain artisans with modern tools and open functional offices across communities in Delta South. I also intend to transform Ogbe-Ijoh Market and boost local economic activities,” he said.
On governance, Orette promised to tackle issues such as electricity, healthcare, and agriculture by providing modern equipment and strengthening agricultural extension services.
He also called for constitutional reforms, particularly the decentralisation of power from the federal government to lower levels of governance.
“Uniformity does not build a country. We must reorganise our system to keep the dreams of young people alive,” he added.
Reflecting on Nigeria’s political history, Orette attributed many of the nation’s challenges to prolonged military involvement in governance, which he said entrenched authoritarian tendencies, weakened institutions, and eroded democratic values.
“The military destroyed our institutions, and today many political actors still exhibit a military mindset. We must demilitarise the thinking of our leaders,” he stated.
He further advocated the establishment of a reserve army and proposed optional participation in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), alongside a six-month voluntary military training programme for youths to enhance national preparedness.
