Ogor Tony-Oboh, a candidate contesting under the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has outlined a broad reform agenda centered on representation, development equity, institutional restructuring, and improved healthcare delivery in Delta State.
Tony-Oboh said her priority focus is what she described as “freedom for Ika South,” stronger legislative voice, fair representation in intervention agencies, and restoration of what she called the original structure of the Delta State oil development framework.
She alleged that Ika South Local Government Area has long been subjected to external political control, insisting that its affairs had been influenced by outside interests rather than the will of its people.
“Freedom for Ika South has been denied over time. Ika South has been under the perpetual control of outside persons and forces without the freedom to run its own affairs or elect the people it chooses,” she said.
She further claimed that this situation had contributed to underdevelopment in the area, despite the allocation of resources meant for local development.
On representation in the Delta State House of Assembly, Tony-Oboh pledged to serve as what she called the “sharp eyes and mouth of Ika South,” promising to ensure stronger advocacy for the constituency if elected.
She said previous representatives had not been vocal enough in defending the interests of the area.
“SHARP EYES AND MOUTH OF IKA SOUTH IN DTHA,” she said, adding that she would pursue fairness and accountability through legal and democratic means.
On development intervention, she raised concerns over representation in the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC), alleging that Ika South currently lacked genuine representation within the commission’s structure.
According to her, the existing arrangement amounts to what she described as proxy representation that does not reflect the true interests of the area.
She promised to ensure that Ika South secures a stronger and more authentic voice within DESOPADEC during her tenure.
Tony-Oboh also called for a return to the original law establishing DESOPADEC, arguing that a 2016 amendment shifted representation from local government areas to communities, which she claimed distorted development priorities.
She alleged that the change was used to redirect projects away from oil-producing communities in Ika South, citing the siting of certain projects outside designated oil-producing areas as evidence of imbalance.
Describing the amendment as unfair, she called for its reversal to restore what she termed equitable distribution of development projects.
On healthcare, Tony-Oboh expressed concern over what she described as the poor state of medical facilities across Delta State, saying many hospitals lack equipment, drugs, and adequate personnel.
“The state of health care across Delta State is deplorable. Citizens die from common diseases that are easily curable,” she said.
She pledged to work with other lawmakers to strengthen the health sector, improve funding, and ensure better access to quality healthcare services across the state if elected.
